The Pros And Cons Of Defensive Medicine

Defensive medicine impacts the delivery of health care in a both a negative and positive way depending on the situation. Physicians in the United States are currently ordering more diagnostic tests/treatments to protect their identity and career as a physician. Defensive medicine is becoming more common which negatively impacts the patient physician relationship. Unnecessary diagnostic tests, treatments, and hospitalization are increased health risks to the patient and are costly to the insurance company. Invasive tests performed on the patient to reconfirm the diagnosis may lead to complications which was not the primary complaint or issue. Defensive medicine also excludes patients from “high risk” treatments which may be lifesaving but is not performed due to the fear of malpractice litigation. If the patient does not receive treatment because the procedure is high risk than they are in a cycle where no physician will treat them due to the fear of being sued. This situation where a patient does not receive care can be frustrating especially if the individual knows what procedures can be done. Prior to medical

a fifty-one-question survey was sent out to three thousand thirty-four United States medical neurosurgeon members of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. One thousand and twenty-eight surgeons participated in the survey and revealed that “72% of the respondents ordered imaging studies, 67% ordered laboratory tests, and 66% consulted other physicians solely for defensive purposes.” Defensive medicine is associated with increased costs of healthcare and a decrease in the quality of patient care. Per Nahed1, several studies estimate that unnecessary costs incurred due to ordering imaging or laboratory tests primarily to lessen malpractice risk is between $41 billion over five years. Based on this evidence, Physicians are more likely to order more tests and avoid high risk patients that could be