A University of Wisconsin-Madison panel told a high-profile back surgeon in 1998 to drastically scale back a $400,000-per-year consulting arrangement with a medical device designer, a Graduate School official said.
But the arrangement continued for about six years before the panel told him in 2004 to make the change.
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Medtronic, a Minnesota company that makes spinal implant equipment, had an arrangement with Dr. Thomas Zdeblick, chairman of the department of orthopedics at UW Hospital. The 10-year deal included $400,000 in pay for two days of consulting work every three months, the Times reported.