While the complaints process is intended to improve healthcare, some doctors appear to practise defensive medicine after receiving a complaint. This response occurs in countries that use a tort-based medicolegal system as well as in countries with less professional liability. Defensive medicine is based on avoiding malpractice liability rather than considering a risk-benefit analysis for both i...

OBJECTIVE The study aimed to determine prevalence, patterns and risk factors of defensive medicine by obstetricians and gynaecologists across China. DESIGN This is a questionnaire survey by written and on-line interview for participants. PARTICIPANTS Among 1804 registered physicians participating at the 2017 Congress of Chinese Obstetricians and Gynecologists Association in Chengdu City, Si...

BACKGROUND Defensive medicine is becoming more frequent behaviour and has an impact on the economic 'health' of national healthcare systems. AIM The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of defensive medicine on gastroenterological practices in Lombardy. METHODS Gastroenterologists attending the Lombardy Annual Gastroenterological Conference received a questionnaire based on multiple ...

BACKGROUND Defensive medicine is prevalent among US neurosurgeons due to the high risk of malpractice claims. This study provides national estimates of US neurosurgeons' defensive behaviors and perceptions. OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship of defensive medicine-both "assurance" behaviors and "avoidance" behaviors-to the liability environment. METHODS A 51-question online survey was sen...

BACKGROUND Defensive medicine is the practice of diagnostic or therapeutic measures conducted primarily as a safeguard against possible malpractice liability. We studied the extent, reasons, and characteristics of defensive medicine in the Israeli health care system. METHODS AND FINDINGS Cross-sectional study performed in the Israeli health care system between April and July 2008 in a sample ...