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Artificial Joint Kickbacks
Memphis, TN: (Sep-27-07) The US Department of Justice brought charges against a Memphis-based unit of British medical device maker Smith & Nephew, alleging that the company engaged in illegal kickbacks. The complaint alleged that the company used consulting contracts with doctors as bribes. The Department of Justice said it found instances in which doctors did little or no work for the consulting pay. In exchange, the doctors agreed to sign exclusive agreements to use a given company's products.
In a settlement reached, Smith & Nephew agreed to pay $28.9 million to settle the federal kickback charges. The agency also filed criminal complaints against Smith & Nephew and three of the other companies, stating that it will dismiss the complaints if the companies comply with monitoring procedures. The federal monitors will review all consulting contracts, and doctors will be required to disclose their consulting relationships to patients in the future. Smith & Nephew released a statement saying that it had cooperated and that it has admitted no guilt. [COMMERCIAL APPEAL: ILLEGAL KICKBACKS]
Published on Sep-28-07
In a settlement reached, Smith & Nephew agreed to pay $28.9 million to settle the federal kickback charges. The agency also filed criminal complaints against Smith & Nephew and three of the other companies, stating that it will dismiss the complaints if the companies comply with monitoring procedures. The federal monitors will review all consulting contracts, and doctors will be required to disclose their consulting relationships to patients in the future. Smith & Nephew released a statement saying that it had cooperated and that it has admitted no guilt. [COMMERCIAL APPEAL: ILLEGAL KICKBACKS]
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