Doctors Estimate Defensive Medicine Costs Americans
$650-850 Billion Annually
ATLANTA, GA - Nine out of 10 U.S.
physicians (92 percent) reported practicing defensive medicine,
according to a new online survey
released today by Jackson Healthcare, a healthcare management
company.
Defensive medicine refers to tests, hospitalizations,
prescriptions and surgical procedures physicians consider medically
unnecessary, but order in an attempt to avoid lawsuits.
This means patients are paying more so that doctors don't get
sued.
In Jackson's survey, physicians attribute 34 percent of overall
healthcare costs to defensive medicine.
To validate the findings of their online survey, Jackson
Healthcare retained Gallup to conduct an independent national
survey of physicians to quantify the scope of defensive medicine
practices. According to Gallup's study, physicians estimate
that one in four dollars (26 percent) spent on health care in
America pays for unnecessary tests and treatments.
"According to recent data from The Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, the U.S. spent $2.5 trillion on healthcare in
2009," said Richard Jackson, chairman and chief executive officer
of Jackson Healthcare. "If physician estimates are accurate,
this means that $650-850 billion per year is spent on
lawsuit-driven medicine."
"The consequences of this waste affect all of us," said
Jackson. "Costs go up and quality and access go down when our
physicians are under the constant personal threat of
litigation."
According to Jackson, many Americans believe that physicians are
personally protected from lawsuits through their malpractice
insurance coverage and their affiliation with an institution.
"This is not true. Physicians are personally financially
liable for mistakes and omissions."
In cases of true negligence, Jackson's online survey found that
nine out of 10 physicians (89 percent) agreed that patients
receiving negligent treatment have the right to compensation.
"Each day our physicians put their careers, reputations and
personal livelihoods at risk in order to serve us," said
Jackson. "Our online survey found that they feel trapped
between the Hippocratic Oath and their personal desire to stay out
of court and in business."
According to Jackson's online survey findings, emergency room,
primary care and OB/GYN physicians are most likely to practice
defensive medicine, as are female and younger physicians.
In addition, the survey found that consequences of defensive
medicine exist beyond the courtroom. These include limited
patient access to medical care, inadequate treatment of patient
illnesses, decreasing physician morale, physician flight from the
practice of medicine, and a general distrust between physicians and
patients.
"We must find a solution that fosters partnership and trust
between physicians and patients," said Jackson. "Physicians
should not have to fear losing everything they have over one
mistake. Likewise, patients should not have to be put at
physical and financial risk because their physicians can't trust
them."
Over 3,000 physicians spanning all states and medical
specialties participated in Jackson Healthcare's online
survey. The survey error range is at the 95 percent
confidence level: +/-1.15 percent.
For more information contact Bob Schlotman at
770-643-5697 at Jackson Healthcare.