First Kuklo, Now Polly, Who will pay the Price?

Today, Barry Meier of the NY Times reported that a second medical consultant, Dr. David W. Polly, Jr. has drawn U.S. Senate scrutiny for his relationship with Medtronic Sofamor Danek. In 2006, Dr. Polly urged a Senate panel to continue government subsidies for medical research into combat related injuries using INFUSE. What Dr Polly failed to disclose during his testimony, was that he was a Medtronic consultant, and, was billing the company $6,000 for his appearance. Without going any further, the SpineBlogger has one simple question to pose; why did the U.S. government subsidize research on behalf of Medtronic, and allow Dr. Polly, or whomever else is involved, to study and validate the product at the expense of U.S. taxpayer dollars. I know the argument, look at the outcomes, but I would argue at whose expense?

If Medtronic is under the microscope, what are these investigations saying about the type of margins that we generate within our industry, in order to pay surgeons the type of consulting fees that they earn? And you think that the federal government is not monitoring this activity? Since Dr. Polly did not acknowledge that he was representing Medtronic at the panel meeting, what does it say about his integrity? As the SpineBlogger has stated before it is these little "white lies" and "selective amnesia" that is beginning to get so many academicians in trouble, not only with the government, but also with their respective institutions. I know some other white knight thespian will take up their cause and say how unjust the people are treating these poor guys, and that the universities are not being transparent. What I have to say to those charges is nonsense. If physicians continue to exhibit this type of arrogance and behavior, there will come a time when federally funded research and grants will become a thing of the past.

Dr. Polly was quoted in the article as saying that his relationship with Medtronic has always been on the up and up. He probably meant that if he shows up, they pay up. If Dr. Polly's study cost the U.S. government nearly $500,000, then Dr.Polly should not only repay the government out of his pocket, he should be charged compounded interest. In addition, the 'evil empire" as we know it should reimburse the government. But isn't it entertaining that now Medtronic is distancing itself by saying that Dr. Polly should have disclosed that the company was paying him for his appearance and travel expenses. In every instance, Dr. Polly has acted honorably, unfortunately, he forgot to tell the government that not only was he doing this for injured military personnel, he was also doing this for Medtronic. The Spine Blogger wants to know what you think.