Do you think that's the best state of mind in which to make that kind of decision?

Doc

Google and WIKIPEDIA are our FRIENDS!

You can Google a doctor's name just like anything else - adding the city or hospital may help if it's a common name. There are many doctor rating/reporting services that will show up on searches; some are free - some charge a fee. People have asked/reported about specific doctors here (and elsewhere). There are state regulatory agencies you can contact; the specific name eludes me at the moment, but if it's not in the archives here, it's out there.
Google: checking up on a doctor works too.

Doc

I really hope you have gotten a second and even third opinion. You can get a copy of your medical records, and look up what device he plans on using on your spine. That is something I didn't do the first time, and paid a price down the line. You can google the proceedure as the other posts mentioned. As far as your doctor goes, there usually is a booklet out in most communities about the doctors in the area. Yes do look him up, and see how many of these surgeries he does. Is he ortho or Neruo? Have the two different approaches agree if you can before you submit to the fusion. I had C6-7 done and was not told in any way that there were other problems not addressed in my neck. I didn't get a hold of my records to see what it said. 6 years later I was fused C3-7. I had continued to degererate with a disease I didn't even know I had. I really wish you all the best. Hope you do all the homework so that you can feel very confident when you do the surgery. I am here for you if you need anything. ginnie