Malpractice Issues
Many people believe that medical malpractice causes the spike in health care costs we’ve seen over the last 10 years, while others believe it only accounts for a small portion of heath care issues. The Boston Herald did some interesting surveys on doctors asking them about their “defensive medicine” practices used to avoid medical malpractice:
Last year, the state medical society surveyed 900 physicians, all anesthesiologists, general surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, obstetricians and gynecologists and doctors who practice emergency, family and internal medicine.
They were asked about their use of X-rays, CT Scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, ultrasounds, laboratory testing, specialty referrals and consultations, and hospital admissions. Some 83 percent of the physicians said they practice “defensive medicine.” That group said that 18 percent to 28 percent of the tests, procedures, referrals and consultations they ordered were to protect them if they were sued.