EXHIBIT 23

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K
of St. Jude Medical, Inc. of our report dated January 26, 2004, included in the
2003 Annual Report to Shareholders of St. Jude Medical, Inc.

Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of St. Jude Medical,
Inc. listed in Item 15(a) of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This schedule is
the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule
referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements
taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set
forth therein.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No.
33-9262, Registration Statement No. 33-41459, Registration Statement No.
33-48502, Registration Statement No. 33-54435, Registration Statement No.
333-42945, Registration Statement No. 333-42658, Registration Statement No.
333-42668 and Registration Statement No. 333-96697 on Form S-8 of our report
dated January 26, 2004, with respect to the consolidated financial statements
incorporated herein by reference, and our report in the preceding paragraph with
respect to the financial statement schedule included in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K of St. Jude Medical, Inc.

                                          /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 12, 2004