What happens when the world’s biggest medical device maker becomes a “health services provider”?

Medtronic was contacted several times by The BMJ and asked to respond to specific criticisms raised in this story. They chose not to respond directly to the questions. On October 19 I sent a series of questions to Medtronic in response to which I received a phone call from Fernando Vivanco, senior director, corporate communications at Medtronic. Mr Vivanco declined to answer any of the questions asked. On November 12 Medtronic responded to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, to which The BMJ is a partner on The Implant Files project. In this ICIJ response, Medtronic did not respond to my particular questions. The company also stated that it would not respond to any further questions. Neither I nor my editor Rebecca Coombes received an email from Medtronic on October 20.

When I referred to the “diabeter” device I meant the Medtronic MiniMed insulin pump device and the article will be corrected accordingly.

In its rapid response, Medtronic complains that I said they “controlled” clinical protocols. But I didn’t actually say this. Instead, I quoted accurately Alberto Quintanar Hernández, director general of the Red Cross in Tijuana, who said protocols were developed in conjunction with Medtronic. This was fact-checked at the time.

As for Medtronic’s claim that they do not donate staff as part of their agreements, three doctors I interviewed claimed otherwise. In addition, two former Medtronic employees have filed suit against Medtronic claiming that their donation of staff comprised a form of kickback - an accusation I put to Medtronic, but which they declined to answer.