D espitc widespread use of the term in the current health policy debate, there is limited understanding of-—let alone consensus on-the true nature of defensive medicine. This chapter explores the concept of defensive medic inc. First, it sets forth the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA’s) definition and compares it with alternative approaches to defining defensive medicine. Second. it explor...

Defensive medicine takes place when doctors prescribe unnecessary tests, procedures or specialist visits (positive defensive medicine), or avoid high risk patients or procedures (negative defensive medicine). Doctors practice defensive medicine in order to reduce their exposure to medical malpractice litigation. This paper reports the results of two studies one national and one conducted at a r...

BACKGROUND Defensive medicine is defined as a doctor's deviation from standard practice to reduce or prevent complaints or criticism. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of the practice of defensive medicine in the UK among hospital doctors and the factors affecting it. METHODS A quantitative study was designed, with a detailed seventeen point questionnaire. Defensive m...

As the rising cost of malpractice threatens to reduce the number of hospitals and physicians in various states across the nation, policy-makers must examine the factors contributing to these crises. Beyond studying the symptoms of malpractice crises, such as increasing claims frequency and severity manifested through increasing malpractice premia, policy-makers must consider flaws within the ma...

The above oath is what every physician is bound to follow, but what happens in real practice is quite alarming. The so-called divine profession has lost its glory due to the intrusion of an evil namely ‘defensive medicine.’ Defensive medicine in simple words is departing from normal medical practice as a safeguard from litigation. It occurs when a medical practitioner performs treatment or proc...

Fear of being involved in a malpractice lawsuit has spawned various defensive attitudes and behaviors in physicians. Despite the relative low rate of malpractice suits against psychiatrists, they too engage in defensive medicine. Simon's and Shuman's paper reviews the hidden danger to clinical care that defensive psychiatric practices can pose to both patients and doctors. This commentary furth...