Dollars for Docs: Talk With Your Doctor

https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/
You can print this page and show it to your doctor.

This database was last updated in October 2019 and should only be used as a historical snapshot. Newer data is available at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments site.

ProPublica's Dollars for Docs database lets you search for payments to U.S.-based doctors made by pharmaceutical and medical device companies between August 2013 and December 2018. The disclosure of these payments is required under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, a provision of the 2010 Affordable Care Act.


About This Information

  • The information that appears here comes directly from the federal government. Companies must attest to its accuracy, and doctors have the ability to contest information they believe is in error.
  • This site includes payments for such activities as speaking, consulting, meals, travel and royalties. It does not include payments for clinical research.
  • It is legal for companies to make payments to doctors as long as the payments are not a kickback or inducement to use their products.
  • Some doctors say collaborative relationships, particularly those involving research, are necessary to develop new treatments and cures. But many ethicists have raised questions about the payments, and studies show that they may influence doctors' prescribing decisions.
  • Only you can decide if this matters to you and if so, whether you want to talk with your doctor about it. If you plan to talk with your doctor (or if you already have), please help us by filling out this short survey: propub.li/participate-d4d

Preparing for Your Conversation

If you decide you'd like to talk to your doctor about this, please keep in mind:

  • Many health care professionals in our database have similar names, so you should start by asking your doctor if the person mentioned in this payment record is really him/her.
  • Your doctor may not know he or she is listed as receiving payments, especially if the payments are small. You can direct your doctor to this site (the URL will be printed at the top of the payment record) or directly to the government's site here: https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/physician/44001
  • Some doctors are happy to discuss this information with you. Others might not be. The best approach is to ask questions and to not be accusatory.

Questions You Might Want to Ask

  • Is this you?
  • What type of work do you do with these companies?
  • Have you prescribed me any drugs that are manufactured by companies you've taken payments from?
  • Are there non-drug alternatives that I may want to consider first?
  • Are there less expensive generic alternatives to the drugs you have prescribed?
  • What devices have you used in my care that are manufactured by companies you've taken payments from?

Dollars for Docs: Talk With Your Doctor

https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/doctors/pid/44001
If you spot an error, please let us know at [email protected].

This database was last updated in October 2019 and should only be used as a historical snapshot. Newer data is available at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments site.


JOHN MORTON

Listed Specialty: Surgery
300 PASTEUR DRIVE, H3680, STANFORD, CA, 94305-5655

2018 Payments: At a Glance

115

payments

$139,801

payment total

11

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Consulting
10 $56,944
Promotional Speaking/Other
9 $36,165
Travel and Lodging
40 $19,609
Education
6 $13,200
Honoraria
1 $8,925
Food and Beverage
49 $4,958

Drugs & Devices in 2018

Totals listed below account for all payments from that mention this product. Beginning in 2016, the government began classifying products as drugs, devices, biologics or medical supplies. Below, you will see drugs (drugs and biologics) and devices (devices and medical supplies). If a payment record mentions more than one product, the entire value will be included in each of those products. When no products are listed, they are not included in the list below.

Product Name Product Type Payments
SAXENDA

drug

$72,880
Payments with no listed product

N/A

$33,068
OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPES

device

$12,423
OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPIC ACCESSORIES

device

$12,423
SEAMGUARD BIOABSORBABLE STAPLE LINE REINFORCEMENT

device

$11,783
OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPIC INSUFFLATION

device

$11,760
OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPIC SUCTION IRRIGATION

device

$11,760
THUNDERBEAT

device

$5,513
SONICISION

device

$2,716
IDRIVE ULTRA

device

$459
LINX REFLUX MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

device

$345
ENDO GIA

device

$292
LAPBAND

device

$165
SONICBEAT

device

$143
PHASIX

device

$120
PERI-STRIPS DRY

drug

$35
TISSEEL

drug

$35
† May not add up to dollar total at top of page, since a payment record may not be associated with any product or can be associated with several products.

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Apr 19, 2018 $14,445 SAXENDA Consulting NOVO NORDISK INC
May 25, 2018 $8,925 SEAMGUARD BIOABSORBABLE STAPLE LINE REINFORCEMENT Honoraria W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Dec 14, 2018 $8,505 SAXENDA Consulting NOVO NORDISK INC
Nov 27, 2018 $8,505 SAXENDA Consulting NOVO NORDISK INC
May 9, 2018 $7,314 No Listed Product Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Nov 2, 2018 $6,987 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging COVIDIEN LP
Oct 10, 2018 $6,500 No Listed Product Consulting OLYMPUS AMERICA INC.
Dec 13, 2018 $6,345 SAXENDA Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC
Dec 12, 2018 $6,345 SAXENDA Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC
Dec 7, 2018 $5,850 OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPIC INSUFFLATION OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPIC SUCTION IRRIGATION OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPES OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPIC ACCESSORIES Education OLYMPUS CORPORATION OF THE AMERICAS
Sep 13, 2018 $5,805 SAXENDA Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC
Aug 29, 2018 $5,535 SAXENDA Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC
Oct 25, 2018 $5,535 SAXENDA Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC
Jan 3, 2018 $3,900 THUNDERBEAT Promotional Speaking/Other OLYMPUS AMERICA INC.
Dec 13, 2018 $2,700 SAXENDA Consulting NOVO NORDISK INC
Oct 10, 2018 $2,600 No Listed Product Consulting OLYMPUS AMERICA INC.
Oct 10, 2018 $2,600 No Listed Product Consulting OLYMPUS AMERICA INC.
Oct 10, 2018 $2,275 No Listed Product Consulting OLYMPUS AMERICA INC.
Dec 7, 2018 $1,950 OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPIC INSUFFLATION OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPIC SUCTION IRRIGATION OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPES OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPIC ACCESSORIES Education OLYMPUS CORPORATION OF THE AMERICAS
Dec 7, 2018 $1,625 OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPIC INSUFFLATION OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPIC SUCTION IRRIGATION OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPES OLYMPUS LAPAROSCOPIC ACCESSORIES Education OLYMPUS CORPORATION OF THE AMERICAS

For ease of printing, 20 payments are displayed, the largest appearing on top. For a full list of payments, please visit: https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/doctors/pid/44001

Note: We have made some effort to normalize the data and eliminate duplicates, but the data is primarily as it has been reported by the companies to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. To purchase the normalized data, please visit the ProPublica Data Store. If you spot an error, please let us know at [email protected].

This site includes data published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on June 28, 2019.