In a JAMA Network study of 45,745 physicians, including orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons and internal medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons were the most likely to begin developing financial relationships with the pharmaceutical and medical device industry in their first two years of practice.
Ninety-five percent of orthopedic surgeons began accepting payments within two years, compared to 92 percent of neurosurgeons and 59 percent of internal medicine physicians.
Orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons also accepted the highest payment amounts, with 11 percent and 13 percent, respectively, accepting over $10,000 in general payments.