On October 24, 2013, the SEC filed settled administrative proceedings against Stryker Corporation. According to the SEC:" From approximately August 2003 to February 2008 (the 'relevant period'), Stryker made approximately $2.2 million in unlawful payments to various government employees including public health care professionals (collectively, the 'foreign officials') in Mexico, Poland, Romania, Argentina, and Greece. Stryker incorrectly described these expenses in the company's books and records as legitimate consulting and service contracts, travel expenses, charitable donations, or commissions, when in fact the payments were improperly made by Stryker to obtain or retain business. Stryker earned approximately $7.5 million in illicit profits as a result of these payments."

On October 24, 2013, the SEC announced that it charged Michigan-based medical technology company Stryker Corporation with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act when subsidiaries in five different countries bribed doctors, healthcare professionals, and other government-employed officials in order to obtain or retain business. According to the SEC's order instituting settled administrative proceedings, Stryker Corporation's subsidiaries in Argentina, Greece, Mexico, Poland, and Romania made illicit payments totaling approximately $2.2 million that were incorrectly described as legitimate expenses in the company's books and records. Stryker has agreed to pay more than $13.2 million to settle the SEC's charges.