Klobuchar dinged for medtech industry support

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Some patient safety advocates are criticizing U.S. senator and Democratic presidential contender Amy Klobuchar for favoring medtech companies over consumers, according to a report by the Associated Press and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

Klobuchar is in her third term representing Minnesota, one of three major medtech hubs in the United States. The journalism organizations reviewed her record as it pertains to the industry in light of Klobuchar’s claim to be a consumer advocate. Klobuchar introduced bills to reduce the number of randomized clinical trials needed for device approvals and to limit the scope of FDA’s questions to medtech companies to market new devices, the story says.

In a statement to the news organizations, Klobuchar defended the bills, which ultimately were incorporated into other legislation that passed, as boosting funding and the bank of experts for FDA. Congressional lawmakers from Minnesota have traditionally supported the medtech industry, a major employer in the state.

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