A University of Wisconsin policy is being questioned after a Senate investigation revealed one of its surgeons dramatically underreported payments from Medtronic.

The Wall Street Journal reports Dr. Thomas Zdeblick has annually told the university on disclosure forms that he receives "$20,000 or more" in royalty and consulting payments from Medtronic. The actual amount? A lot more. Try $19 million over five years.

The university's reporting rules are vague enough that Zdeblick has been able to hide the full scope of the payments. U of W med school dean Robert Golden told the WSJ its disclosure requirements are insufficient and "indefensible."

The payments were revealed in a letter from Republican Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, one of the leading forces in a "growing movement for more detailed disclosure of the financial ties between doctors and outside interests."

In one lawsuit, a former Medtronic employee said the payments to Zdeblick were a "sham," but Medtronic told the WSJ that its consulting relationships with doctors are proper.