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A Survey of Physician Training Programs in Risk Management and Communication Skills for Malpractice Prevention

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2021

Frank V. Lefevre ,
Teresa M. Waters  and
Peter P. Budetti
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Extract

Malpractice lawsuits serve as a great source of pain, consternation and loss for physicians and patients alike, usually leaving all parties involved in the process with a sense of betrayal. A significant number of physicians will be sued at least once in their career, especially if they practice in some of the more vulnerable specialties. In addition, there is some evidence that the threat of malpractice lawsuits changes the practice style of many physicians, leading to the practice of “defensive medicine” and raises the total cost of health care. Clearly, the prevention of medical malpractice is an issue that deserves considerable attention from physicians and from those who train them.

Empirical evidence suggests that medical negligence may play a relatively minor role in malpractice lawsuits. As demonstrated by Localio, et al., one in thirty-five cases of negligence or incompetence actually results in a lawsuit.

Type
Article
Information
Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics , Volume 28 , Issue 3 , Fall 2000 , pp. 258 - 266
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics 2000

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