From AP, “Study: Malpractice worries help drive health costs“:
NEW YORK — A substantial number of heart doctors — about one in four — say they order medical tests that might not be needed out of fear of getting sued, according to a new study.
Nearly 600 doctors were surveyed for the study to determine how aggressively they treat their patients and whether non-medical issues have influenced their decisions to order invasive heart tests.
Most said they weren’t swayed by such things as financial gain or a patient’s expectations. But about 24 percent of the doctors said they had recommended the test in the previous year because they were worried about malpractice lawsuits.
That would be a good issue to address in federal health care legislation, don’t you think?
Hat tip: Bob McCarty Writes
