Defensive medicine comes at a high cost to doctors
Defensive medicine comes at a high cost to doctors
More than 90% of surveyed physicians in Pennsylvania reported defensive medicine practices such as overordering of diagnostic tests, unnecessary referrals, and avoidance of high-risk patients, according to a recent study.
Defensive medicine, defined as the deviation from sound medical practice that is induced primarily by a threat of malpractice suits, has been reported widely in the United States and abroad. However, its prevalence and characteristics remain controversial.
According to the recent study, defensive medicine may supplement care (additional testing or treatment), replace care (referral to another physician or health facility), or reduce care (refusal to treat particular patients) (JAMA 2005; 293:2,609-2,617). Some practices, described as "assurance behavior" (sometimes called "positive" defensive medicine), involve supplying additional services
of marginal or no medical value with the aim of reducing adverse outcomes, deterring patients from filing malpractice claims, or persuading the legal system that the standard of care was met.
Other practices, described as "avoidance behavior" (sometimes called "negative" defensive medicine), reflect physicians’ efforts to distance themselves from sources of legal risk. Defensive medicine, particularly avoidance behavior, encompasses both day-to-day clinical decisions affecting individual patients and more systematic alterations of scope and style of practice.
More than 90% of surveyed physicians in Pennsylvania reported defensive medicine practices such as overordering of diagnostic tests, unnecessary referrals, and avoidance of high-risk patients, according to a recent study.Subscribe Now for Access
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