Robert Jarvik, a Utah hero for inventing the usable artificial heart that found a temporary home in the late Barney Clark's chest, is getting unwanted attention for his pill pushing for Pfizer. The drug giant spent $258 million in the past two years advertising Lipitor. Much of cash went for the Jarvik campaign.

The U. S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce thinks Jarvik — who is an M.D, but never got a license to practice medicine, let alone certification as a cardiologist — is misleading consumers. Jarvik insists he uses Lipitor and his goal is educating people about preventing heart problems.

Now, The New York Times is on the case. They've learned that a spot showing Jarvik sculling is bogus:

And, for that matter, what qualifies him to pose as a rowing enthusiast? As it turns out, Dr. Jarvik, 61, does not actually practice the sport. The ad agency hired a stunt double for the sculling scenes.

“He’s about as much an outdoorsman as Woody Allen," said a longtime collaborator, Dr. O. H. Frazier of the Texas Heart Institute. “He can’t row.”

The House committee also wants records proving Rob actually took Lipitor. Since Jarvik also appears in a touching ad with a younger man who calls him "Dad," maybe they should call for a DNA test, too.