ARTIFICIAL HEART INVENTOR MAY HAVE ARTIFICIAL BODY, TOO

A House committee investigating what it claims are "false and misleading statements and the use of celebrity endorsements of prescription medications," indicated Thursday that it is looking into claims that the makers of the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor used stunt doubles for its TV commercials featuring Dr. Robert Jarvik, inventor of the artificial heart. The investigation came to light after the New York Times reported on Thursday that although Jarvik was shown supposedly participating in the strenuous sport of sculling in a Lipitor ad two years ago, the actual rower was Dennis Williams, a member of the Lake Washington, WA Rowing Club. Jarvik, the Times said, does not row.

08/02/2008