Perhaps you or a loved one is considering surgery. In researching surgeons, one is advocating for the use of a particular device for your back. Certainly, it may be the right device for you. And also, there may be an ulterior motive for the surgeon to recommend it – he or she has made lots of money from the manufacturer of the device.

Wouldn’t it be nice to know if that were (or were not) the case?

You can.

Pro Publica created a tool for you to research physicians to see whether and to what extent they have received money from drug and/or device manufacturers.

You can find it here:

[Dollars for Docs](https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/)

The site also lists the top companies who pay doctors. One company, Genentech, a drug manufacturer, has paid over one billion doctors to nearly 5,000 doctors.

In Washington State, Vascular and Interventional Radiologist Rodney Raabe, M.D. from Spokane is the highest earning doctor, making over $24,000,000 from such companies.

If you are considering a procedure involving a medical device, or a new medication, it may be worthwhile to learn more about the company who makes it, and the doctor who is recommending it.