UCLA Investigating Spine Surgeon's Conflicts of Interest

The Wall Street Journal reports, "A top surgeon at the University of California, Los Angeles, has lost his position as executive director of its spine center and faces an investigation by the school into his research after allegedly failing to disclose he was being paid by several companies whose products he was studying." The university claims that Jeffrey Wang "repeatedly failed to report on forms filed with the state and with the medical school that he was receiving consulting payments, stock options, and royalties from five companies on whose products he was conducting research." In doing so, he "'violated university guidelines,' the school said." A committee appointed by UCLA will "investigate Dr. Wang's work and determine whether the payments affected his research and 'if there are any mitigating actions needed to ensure the integrity of the research results." A spokeswoman for the university said "the school is considering further sanctions against" Wang.