By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Do Electronic Health Records Reduce Malpractice Claims?
    February 2, 2013
    A Humble Opinion: Book Review
    May 3, 2015
    medicaid
    Paul Krugman: Stop Being an Embarrassment to the Profession
    March 7, 2013
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Eagerly Awaiting the Death of Defensive Medicine
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > Eagerly Awaiting the Death of Defensive Medicine
DiagnosticsHospital AdministrationPolicy & Law

Eagerly Awaiting the Death of Defensive Medicine

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
3 Min Read
unnecessary medical tests
SHARE

unnecessary medical testsI’ve always been annoyed by proponents and defenders of defensive medicine, i.e., doctors ordering unnecessary tests to stave off lawsuits. Not always, but often enough, it is a case of physicians shirking responsibility, blaming others, and acting in a self-serving manner.

unnecessary medical testsI’ve always been annoyed by proponents and defenders of defensive medicine, i.e., doctors ordering unnecessary tests to stave off lawsuits. Not always, but often enough, it is a case of physicians shirking responsibility, blaming others, and acting in a self-serving manner. Attitudes haven’t changed that much, if Defensive medicine: A solvable problem in Healthcare Finance News is to be believed.

A Medscape survey cited in the article asked physicians who’s been sued to give advice to others:

Among the remarks: “Document more often, more thoroughly… get rid of rude, demanding, noncompliant patients… practice more defensive medicine.” One advisor went so far as saying: “Don’t assume ANYTHING!! If it hurts, CAT scan it. If it hurts between the nose and the toes, consider it a heart attack and stress-test everyone from 9 to 90!”

A 2010 survey of physicians found that doctors thought 26 percent of health care costs were due to defensive medicine.

More Read

Why You Should Complete an Advance Directive Today
Holistic Practices That Will Improve Your Life
Famous Baby Photographer to Help Give Babies in Developing Countries a “Shot@Life”
Ask These 10 Questions Before Starting Any Medication
A Framework for Embracing Cloud in Health and Healthcare

Although there may be a knee-jerk reaction to test more rather than less, there’s no evidence that the amount of testing has anything to do with the likelihood of a lawsuit. In a fee-for-service environment, more testing puts more money in the doctor’s pocket, so I’ve always been skeptical of the “defensive medicine” explanation for over-testing.

Now that capitation in various guises is coming into vogue, physicians and hospitals are going to look at things a little differently. I’ll bet the same doctor who recommends indiscriminate scans and stress tests today will find some other approach to risk management once financial incentives are re-aligned. With a bit of luck, that will sound the death knell of defensive medicine.

Thankfully there are other approaches to protecting against lawsuits, including not making errors in the first place and apologizing when mistakes do occur. I’m sympathetic to physicians who get sued, but we shouldn’t make too much of their defensive medicine advice.

—–

(Another medical test / shutterstock)

TAGGED:defensive medicine
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025
physiotherapist at work
How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
Health care
August 20, 2025
Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs
7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
Health News
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

weightloss
Public HealthSpecialtiesWellness

New Research Shows How to Lose Weight After 40

May 4, 2017

How Healthcare Workers Can Smoothly Change Careers

July 14, 2016

Hospitals No Longer Non-Profit?

October 10, 2011
Image
Global HealthcareMobile Health

Mobile Health Around the Globe: ‘Wazazi Nipendeni’ Free SMS Service Launches in Tanzania

January 7, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?