Senate panel to question payments to surgeons

Five makers of orthopedic implants paid more than $221 million to surgeon "consultants" in 2007, according to a U.S. Senate committee. Sen. Herb Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat who is chairman of the committee, has proposed legislation that would mandate disclosure of consulting payments by medical-device makers and drug companies. The Advanced Medical Technology Association said it "supported the concept of disclosure" but would like changes to the legislation in order to protect legitimate payments to surgeons.