What would your grade school principal have done if he or she discovered that Mr. Boyd, the school janitor, was spending his summers in Japan playing left field for the Nippon Ham Fighters? What if it was revealed that he was pulling down seven figures a year in sushi endorsements alone? Would he be fired? Would she demand an investigation? Would she declare every Friday sushi day and proceed to teach your school a lesson in world culture and fine cuisine?

As shocking as the revelation that the man who changes your urinal cakes is a sports hero on the other side of the globe may have been, it doesn’t quite pack the same wallop as the $19.3 million Dr. Thomas Zdeblick of the University of Wisconsin Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation has received from medical device giant Medtronic.

Through patent royalties, the good doctor built quite a comfortable second source of income. However, UW Hospital rules only require that doctors disclose approximate compensation amounts from outside sources. Zdeblick’s income fell in the $20,000 and over category. This figure caught the eye of Sen. Charles Grassley, R-IA, who requested an explanation for such a gross understatement from the university. The university, to its credit, responded well and defended Zdeblick from any accusation of wrongdoing.

All of Zdeblick’s patients were given the proper forms disclosing the possibility of outside financial interests. Furthermore, Grassley’s implication that the doctor broke his own code of ethics by accepting payment from Medtronic is groundless — and frankly, irresponsible. It appears the bulk of Zdeblick’s compensation was related to royalties on patents he himself holds, rather than insidious incentives meant to stuff every patient that walks through his door full of pacemakers.

Overall, this case by itself is rather unremarkable, save for the unusual amount of dollars involved. Nevertheless, it does serve to call attention to larger issue of the alarmingly close association between doctors and the rest of the health care industry. There is well-founded concern that the lines between doctors and the treatments they administer are becoming increasingly blurred. Don’t you ever get suspicious when the doctor uses a Claritin pen to write your allergy prescription?

Grassley, however, would do well to focus more on systemic reforms such as — ironically — those proposed in a new bill co-sponsored by himself and Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis. Don’t let the name fool you, the “Physician Payment Sunshine Act of 2009” has some real teeth. Its passage would mandate that drug and device manufacturers disclose gifts to doctors in excess of $25. Such a bill would be a huge step forward for patient advocates, and would complement moves made by other institutions.

Stanford, among five other universities, has amended its policy to curb the questionable practice of drug and device companies sponsoring classes and seminars that address topics involving specific products they make. Though this may increase costs to doctors as well as the universities themselves, it is a necessary measure to help ensure the integrity of our current medical system. In any case, the companies are still allowed (in fact encouraged) to donate to a general fund, but a critical avenue of influence has been closed.

UW has also joined the movement, even before Grassley’s letter to UW System President Kevin Reilly; UW-Madison was in the process of a project to better inform patients at seven of its clinics and hospitals about possible ties between doctors and the medical industry. In addition to posting signs through the buildings, the university also has patients sign a waiver form acknowledging the possibility their doctor may have financial ties to certain companies within the industry.

This is only the beginning, however. The university’s response to Grassley indicates they are planning on expanding the program to include a database matching doctors to the exact amounts they receive from medical companies that can be available at the request of any patient. Such a step is critical if full transparency is ever to be brought to the medical industry.

Though Grassley may have overzealously targeted an ethical doctor and skilled inventor, his efforts to root out conflict of interest within the medical industry are important to the health of our nation — so long as they are focused on addressing the systemic problem, rather than one or two high-profile cases. At the same time, Reilly and Chancellor Biddy Martin should also be lauded for their farsighted approach to the issue. With poise and tact they managed to say, “Thanks Chuck, but we’ve got this covered.”

Joey Labuz ([email protected]) is a junior majoring in biomedical engineering.