Study: Malpractice Fears Prompt Defensive Medicine
Physicians who have concerns about malpractice lawsuits are more likely to practice defensive medicine than less-fearful colleagues, according to a study published in Health Affairs. The study found that nearly 30% of patients with lower back pain who visited a physician with a high level of malpractice concern received additional imaging services, compared with 18% of those seen by a physician with a low level of concern.
- "Fearful Doctors May Order Too Many Tests" (Kulkarni, Reuters, 8/14).