Medtronics To Disclose Money Paid To Doctors

In the past I have blogged on the issue of the staggering amount of money that Medronic was paying to surgeons that were using their products and the whistle blower cases that have lead to disclosures. Other members of the Injuryboard have also looked at kickbacks, Congressional over site , and off label use. All of these stories have put pressure on the financial relationships at the heart of these exchanges.

Medronic has now come forward and stated that they will voluntarily disclose how much money it gives physicians in various consulting and other payment arrangements. The disclosures will include consulting fees, royalties or honoraria for physicians who receive payments of $5,000 or more annually from Medtronic. Those consulting fees will include counsel for education and training, clinical trial design, administration and product design as well as safety.

It is vital that people looking at surgeries understand what, if any, interest their doctor has in the product being used. It is also important that the cloak of "who is being paid what" is lifted so that medical schools and hospitals can be free of the taint that these non disclosed payments can raise. This is very good news for the entire medical field.