The fusing of two or more vertebrae of the neck, using orthopedic devices to hold them in place.

The resection and removal of a portion of the prostate through the urethra.

The removal of the entire prostate gland via the open or laparoscopic or robotic method.

The fusing of two or more vertebrae in the lower back, performed on the front portion of the spine.

The fusing of two or more vertebrae in the lower back, performed on the back portion of the spine.

We focused on procedures done thousands of times a day, mostly without incident. They are scheduled in advance and generally performed on patients in stable health. We excluded patients who came in through the emergency room or from facilities like nursing homes. Read our methodology »

Surgeons, Not Hospitals

Conventional wisdom tells patients to simply choose a good hospital when they need surgery. But ProPublica has found that even within “good” hospitals, performance between surgeons can vary significantly. Half of all hospitals in America have surgeons with low and high complication rates. Read our story »

16,019 Surgeons rated in ProPublica's analysis

Surgeons rated in ProPublica's analysis 63,173 Medicare patients were readmitted with complications between 2009 and 2013

Medicare patients were readmitted with complications between 2009 and 2013 3,405 Medicare patients died during a hospital stay for elective surgery between 2009 and 2013

Background Stories

An updated estimate says it could be at least 210,000 patients a year – more than twice the number in the Institute of Medicine’s frequently quoted report, “To Err is Human.”

Patients seldom are told or get an apology when they are harmed during medical care, according to a new study based on results from ProPublica's Patient Harm Questionnaire.

Top patient-safety experts call on Congress to step in and, among other steps, give the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wider responsibility for measuring medical mistakes.

Read the entire series »