Healthy Skepticism Library item: 13210

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Publication type: news

Baker R, McKenzie N.
Artificial hips recalled after patient woes
The Age 2008 Mar 13
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/artificial-hips-recalled-after-patient-woes/2008/03/12/1205126011407.html

Full text:

THE body representing medical technology companies in Australia said
yesterday that it was taking the US investigation into payments by
medical device makers to overseas doctors “very seriously”.

The Medical Technology Association of Australia said it was working
closely with medical device companies operating in Australia to ensure
the kickback scandal that occurred in the US – where companies paid
doctors $US222 million ($A238 million) in consultancy arrangements last
year – is not repeated here.

Two of the biggest financial supporters of leading Melbourne hospitals
and surgeons, US medical device companies Stryker and Zimmer, are being
investigated by US authorities over payments to foreign doctors to
secure exclusive use of their products.

Stryker and Zimmer make artificial hip, knee and spine implants, and
devices used in trauma surgery. Both companies are listed by The Alfred
and Royal Melbourne hospitals as big donors in recent years,
contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars for research and other
activities.

The two companies and several of their rivals have commercial links to
several of Melbourne’s top surgeons, raising conflict of interest problems.

The Age was yesterday contacted by several Victorian doctors and other
hospital workers who claimed medical device companies were actively
seducing Melbourne surgeons with offers of five-star travel, payment of
school fees and golf club memberships.

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon declined to make extensive comment
on the situation while the US probe of payments to overseas doctors
continued.

The association said the innovative nature of medical devices required a
close relationship between clinicians and companies.

“However . this close relationship requires a clear understanding of
ethical behaviours by both parties,” it said.

Australian Orthopaedic Association vice president John Batten agreed
that surgeons and companies needed to work closely to ensure the proper
development of medical equipment. Most surgeons were aware of what
constituted a proper relationship and what was a breach of the
association’s code of conduct, he said.