Wall Street Journal, Oregon Neurosurgeon, Bishal James Makker, performed multiple spinal surgeries on Medicare patients at a high rate.  Dr. Makker’s rate of 39 additional surgeries for every 100 initial spinal fusions compares to 4 additional spinal surgeries for every 100 patients as the norm. The database that the Wall Street Journal authors reviewed contains a computerized record of every bill submitted to and paid out by Medicare. According to a deposition taken of Dr. Makker in 2008 he performed 300 and 500 spinal surgeries a year.  The database also showed that Dr. Makker performed 7 separate spinal fusions on one patient in less than 2 years. Dr. Makker has faced multiple medical malpractice settling at least 4 for a total of 1.2 million dollars.  A fifth medical malpractice case was resolved in his favor.]]>