Researchers conducted a survey of fourth-year medical students and third-year residents in 2010. In the survey, medical trainees were asked to assess how frequently malpractice liability concerns or defensive medicine was integrated into their training.
More than half of all surveyed medical students (126) and residents (76) completed the survey. Key findings include the following points:
• Almost all (92 percent) of medical students reported sometimes or often encountering at least one assurance practice during their training. Assurance practices are additional services physicians provide that are of no value to patients.
• Comparatively, only 34 percent of medical students reported encountering at least one avoidance practice. Avoidance practices are marked by lack of service to patients out of fear of medical liability.
• Almost all (96 percent) of residents reported seeing at least one assurance practice, while 43 percent reported seeing at least one avoidance practice.
• Almost half of all medical students (41 percent) and residents (53 percent) reported their attending physicians sometimes or often explicitly taught them to take medical liability into account when making clinical decisions.
Related Articles on Defensive Medicine:
Orthopedic Defensive Medicine Costs Estimated at $2B Annually
Poll: 33% of Healthcare Costs Attributed to Defensive Medicine
Poll: Fear of Lawsuits Drives Number of Tests Ordered for 44% of Emergency Physicians
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