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
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Right Diagnosis, Wrong Cure
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 > Policy & Law > Right Diagnosis, Wrong Cure
Policy & Law

Right Diagnosis, Wrong Cure

JohnCGoodman
JohnCGoodman
Share
2 Min Read
SHARE

Writing in The New York Times, Sanjay Gupta notes that defensive medicine leads doctors to order tests and procedures that can cause other errors:

In a recent anonymous survey, orthopedic surgeons said 24 percent of the tests they ordered were medically unnecessary. This kind of treatment is a form of defensive medicine, meant less to protect the patient than to protect the doctor or hospital against potential lawsuits.

Writing in The New York Times, Sanjay Gupta notes that defensive medicine leads doctors to order tests and procedures that can cause other errors:

In a recent anonymous survey, orthopedic surgeons said 24 percent of the tests they ordered were medically unnecessary. This kind of treatment is a form of defensive medicine, meant less to protect the patient than to protect the doctor or hospital against potential lawsuits.

More Read

They Call This Research?
The PCMH and Home Care Data: An Interview with Melissa McCormack
What Is a “Navigator”?
Big Party Candidates and Globe Don’t Get It on Tech
Should Step Therapy and Prior Authorization Be Outlawed?

Herein lies a stunning irony. Defensive medicine is rooted in the goal of avoiding mistakes. But each additional procedure or test, no matter how cautiously performed, injects a fresh possibility of error. CT and M.R.I. scans can lead to false positives and unnecessary operations, which carry the risk of complications like infections and bleeding. The more medications patients are prescribed, the more likely they are to accidentally overdose or suffer an allergic reaction. Even routine operations like gallbladder removals require anesthesia, which can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

But Gupta misses the obvious solution: don’t have a medical malpractice system that compensates patients only for adverse events found to constitute “malpractice.”  Instead, have a voluntary no-fault system that compensates for all adverse events — regardless of cause.

  

TAGGED:liabilityMalpracticemedical law
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

How Setting Boundaries Helps Trauma Survivors Heal
Health
October 30, 2025
how to improve REM sleep
Unlock Better Sleep: How to Improve REM Sleep Naturally
Wellness
October 30, 2025
uv protection in winter
Winter Sun Safety: Why UV Protection Matters Year-Round
Health
October 29, 2025
Nurse Scheduling Software
Evaluating 7 Best Nurse Scheduling Software
Nursing Technology
October 28, 2025

You Might also Like

Clinical Training Must Be Coupled with Policy, Management to Improve Care

May 29, 2012
The impact of US healthcare spending
BusinessFinanceGlobal HealthcareHealth ReformPublic Health

The Impact of US Healthcare Spending [INFOGRAPHIC]

February 19, 2014

Privacy on the Internet–Tracking User History With Cookies and Flash Cookies And More-Use a Program Like CCleaner to Fight Back

February 28, 2011

The Cost of Living in Fat City

September 21, 2012
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?