Lawmakers Question Financial Ties in Cardiovascular Industry

Senators Charles Grassley (R-I) and Herb Kohl (D-W) want answers from the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) and Columbia University regarding their financial ties with doctors and device and drug companies. The letters request information from both organizations about payments and benefits given to a list of 22 doctors from January 2003 up until the present. This includes the name of the payment source, date, amount, and annual total payment from the source.

October 17, 2008

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Grassley and Kohl also want a report from Columbia that details funding it provided to Abbott Labs, Medtronic, Medinol, Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson, and the CRF from January 2003 until now. The senators are asking the CRF to provide information about any communications it had with representatives from those companies from January 2007 to the present.The letter to CRF (sent to chairman Gregg Stone, MD, who is included on the list of 22 doctors) cites reporting in the New York Times and Business Week, along with other evidence that device industry funding might influence the actions of nonprofit groups despite stating their unbiased stance. In addition to requesting information from the five companies above, the letter also requests payment information related to any drug or device company involving the CRF from January 2003 until the present.The senators want to hear back from Columbia and the CRF by October 30.

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