Grassley questioning U. Minnesota about surgeon paid over $1 million in Medtronic payments

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A U.S. senator investigating financial conflicts in medicine is questioning the University of Minnesota about a surgeon who was paid more than $1 million in consulting fees by Medtronic Inc.

In a letter, Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley asks how the university monitors potential conflicts of interest involving doctors in its medical school who receive consulting payments.

Grassley also makes several allegations about Dr. David Polly, including claims that Polly testified before the Senate without disclosing that he was being paid by Medtronic.

Polly tells the Star Tribune he never hid his relationship with Medtronic and followed all the university's disclosure rules. Medtronic says it's investigating its relationship with Polly.

The university must respond to Grassley by Aug. 7.

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Information from: Star Tribune

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.