9 in 10 Doctors Blame Lawsuit Fears for Over Testing Patients
A survey published recently in the Archives of Internal Medicine noted that ninety percent of physicians who participated in the survey said that doctors over-test and over-treat patients in part to avoid medical malpractice lawsuits, according to an article in the Associated Press.
The survey questioned 1,231 doctors nationwide. The physicians surveyed included emergency room doctors, specialists, surgeons, and primary care doctors. The survey asked two questions: "Do physicians order more tests and procedures than patients need to protect themselves from malpractice suits?", and, "Are protections against unwarranted malpractice lawsuits needed to decrease the unnecessary use of diagnostic tests?"
Ninety-one percent of the physicians surveyed agreed with both survey questions. The rate of agreement that doctors over-test to avoid lawsuits was higher among male physicians, of whom 93 percent agreed, than among female physicians, of whom 87 percent agreed. Both male and female physicians agreed equally that more protection against lawsuits was needed to decrease the rate of over-testing.
Even when physicians over-test and over-treat, they may fail to find the cause of a patient’s illness or treat it in the appropriate way for that patient. This failure may be an honest mistake, or it may be the result of negligence or carelessness on the physician’s part.
If you or someone you love has been injured or become ill as the result of negligent medical care, please contact the experienced Missouri medical negligence lawyers at Page Law. Our skilled legal team will thoroughly review the details of your case and help you understand and protect your legal rights. Call Page Law today at (314) 322-8515 to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation.