And loses the subsequent lawsuit. I’m thinking this must have been a nurse practitioner working in a GYN’s office. Here’s hoping she has good malpractice insurance. A physician comments on the chilling effects of the verdict:
$2,450,000 is approximately the life savings of a general practice MD after tax and life’s expenses.As a Greenville county physician the prospect of losing an entire life’s savings for one mistake is very discouraging. It causes a few undesirable behaviors on the part of myself and my peers.
1. We spend an excessive amount of money ordering tests, radiology procedures, surgical procedures, and even hospitalization in order to prevent such a lawsuit. The cost of such “defensive medicine” is enourmous and cannot be calculated because all of the waste “looks good on paper” -meaning the appropriate indication for all of the above is documented in the medical record, not by lying, but by representing the truth in a way that will justify the tests.
2. I do not volunteer my talent at any charity clinic becuase I am not willing to take this risk.
3. In a time when my specialty is in high demand, the risk of such a loss encourages me to retire early, despite the need for my work in this community.
(via Ted Frank)
