Comments on: Cover your ass, defensive medicine http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:39:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Annhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80673 Ann Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:49:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80673 Has anyone given any thought to how hard defensive medicine is on the patient? Patients are more savvy about the care they need/receive. So a patient's doc, who decides defensive medicine is a good idea, orders a test. The patient has been reading up on his/her symptoms and doesn't understand why this test would be beneficial. So the patient asks. The doc is already in a "defensive" stance and interprets the patient's question as a challenge to his/her competence. Instead of visiting with the patient about the whys of the test, the doc begins to send out messages to the patient that they need to find another doc. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Label the patient as non-compliant instead of engaging in a little communication, as was mentioned earlier. Has anyone given any thought to how hard defensive medicine is on the patient? Patients are more savvy about the care they need/receive. So a patient’s doc, who decides defensive medicine is a good idea, orders a test. The patient has been reading up on his/her symptoms and doesn’t understand why this test would be beneficial. So the patient asks. The doc is already in a “defensive” stance and interprets the patient’s question as a challenge to his/her competence. Instead of visiting with the patient about the whys of the test, the doc begins to send out messages to the patient that they need to find another doc. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Label the patient as non-compliant instead of engaging in a little communication, as was mentioned earlier.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80600 Anonymous Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:21:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80600 Actually, the answer is the ones who fail to communicate with their patients. <br/><br/>I have yet to figure out why physicians don't look at their own behavior if they so badly want to risk their chances of being sued. There are so many studies out there that show you what you can do about it. Maybe it's the fundamental arrogance that doesn't allow you to believe you could improve. Actually, the answer is the ones who fail to communicate with their patients.

I have yet to figure out why physicians don’t look at their own behavior if they so badly want to risk their chances of being sued. There are so many studies out there that show you what you can do about it. Maybe it’s the fundamental arrogance that doesn’t allow you to believe you could improve.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80596 Anonymous Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:39:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80596 "But if you really want to reduce your chances of being sued, you should study which physicians are most likely to get sued."<br/><br/>Answer: Ones that will treat you in an emergency. Question is though do you want them to be around? “But if you really want to reduce your chances of being sued, you should study which physicians are most likely to get sued.”

Answer: Ones that will treat you in an emergency. Question is though do you want them to be around?

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80585 Anonymous Tue, 02 Oct 2007 01:30:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80585 Patients injured on the job are more likely to have their medical bills covered due to workers comp, thus the need to sue for malpractice is lessened. That's not surprising.<br/><br/>But if you really want to reduce your chances of being sued, you should study which physicians are most likely to get sued. Patients injured on the job are more likely to have their medical bills covered due to workers comp, thus the need to sue for malpractice is lessened. That’s not surprising.

But if you really want to reduce your chances of being sued, you should study which physicians are most likely to get sued.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80579 Anonymous Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:41:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80579 Actually there are studies on which patients are most likely to litigate. Uninsured patients are much more likely to litigate than insured patients. Patients injured in recreational activities are more likely to sue the doctor than patients injured on the job or who otherwise have someone else to sue. In my state, medicaid patients are much more likely to sue than privately insured patients. My carrier tells me that 80% of the suits filed here are by people on Medicaid or uninsured.<br/><br/>The patient most likely to sue: an uninsured biker in the ER with a femor fracture acquired while riding his motorcycle under the influence. Actually there are studies on which patients are most likely to litigate. Uninsured patients are much more likely to litigate than insured patients. Patients injured in recreational activities are more likely to sue the doctor than patients injured on the job or who otherwise have someone else to sue. In my state, medicaid patients are much more likely to sue than privately insured patients. My carrier tells me that 80% of the suits filed here are by people on Medicaid or uninsured.

The patient most likely to sue: an uninsured biker in the ER with a femor fracture acquired while riding his motorcycle under the influence.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80578 Anonymous Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:37:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80578 Over just the last few years I have seen the ER's in my state shift to rampant abuse of the commitment statues to commit patients with the most specious psych complaints without any evidence of even a cursory mental status exam. Over just the last few years I have seen the ER’s in my state shift to rampant abuse of the commitment statues to commit patients with the most specious psych complaints without any evidence of even a cursory mental status exam.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80541 Anonymous Sun, 30 Sep 2007 03:43:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80541 No, but there is a study of which physicians are more likely to get sued. Turns out it's the assholes. Who knew? No, but there is a study of which physicians are more likely to get sued. Turns out it’s the assholes. Who knew?

]]> By: Dexhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80529 Dex Fri, 28 Sep 2007 23:02:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/09/cover-your-ass-defensive-medicine.html#comment-80529 Is there a study of which patients are more likely to litigate? Is there a study of which patients are more likely to litigate?

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