Medtronic paid researcher millions

A prominent spine surgeon and researcher at the University of Wisconsin received $19 million in payment over five years from spinal device maker Medtronic Inc., according to a senator who is investigating potential conflicts of interest in medicine. The surgeon, Thomas Zdeblick, received the payments while helping Medtronic develop and promote a number of spinal products. Medtronic's $19 million in payments to Zdeblick from 2003 to 2007 went "greatly" beyond what was evident in disclosures he made to the university, Sen. Charles Grassley said in a Jan. 12 letter to the school's president.