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One should never listen to surgeons' conversations after their block day. "I put this prosthesis on, today (…) but they really do shit, huh. "And the machine that cuts the femur, (…) it's a disaster, right? "You think I tell him [au commercial] that G. does not want to put on her prosthesis because she fears? That's right, he told me so clearly. " But this evening in November 2014, when these two Italian orthopedic Monza review their galley of the day, they both ignore that their phone was tapped.
No hip prosthesis found grace in their eyes that day. Nobody knew anything about it; not the patients, at least. For the Milanese police, however, the content of these conversations is proof that both men were paid to implant prostheses they consider of poor quality. " A conduct (…) perfectly in line with the pact of corruption "but "Contrary to homework" from the doctor, who is "To guarantee patients the best care", summarizes the judicial document The world became acquainted with the investigation of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), including our Italian colleague Paolo Biondani of the newspaper L'Espresso is a partner.
It took three years for Italian justice to uncover a vast system of corruption involving dozens of general practitioners and orthopedic surgeons. The investigation by the prosecutor of Monza is complete, but investigations are continuing in Lucca, Tuscany. All involve the same company, a subsidiary of the French manufacturer Ceraver, specialized in orthopedics and who had already illustrated in 2013, for marketing non-compliant hip prostheses and conducted clinical trials without warning patients.
This Franco-Italian case reveals persistent practices in the medical devices sector, particularly in orthopedics. The sector is buoyant because the population is aging. But the competition is tough and innovations too rare: there are hundreds of models of hip prostheses on the market. All are alike, so salespeople compete ingenuity to stand out. Sometimes to cross the red line.
The Italian organization was well-honed. General practitioners served as recruiters. They offered their patients to bring an orthopedic surgeon to the office. The sick, mostly elderly, were delighted that a renowned professional was moving to them. In Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Calabria, Tuscany, dozens of doctors have played intermediaries. In exchange, they received 300 euros per month – and a percentage on each visit. The surgeons themselves received 50 to 60 euros in cash at the first consultation, then 75 euros per prosthesis implanted, in addition to their fees. Interventions took place at the Monza Polyclinic or at a nearby hospital.
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