"Defensive" Medicine Drives Costs

A recent survey of Massachusetts physicians shows that fear of malpractice suits significantly affect the way that doctors practice medicine. According to the Boston Globe, doctors are likely to order more tests and hospitalizations in order to avoid lawsuits. They are also more likely to reduce the number of high-risk patients they see or even close their practice altogether. The study concluded that eliminating the fear of malpractice suits could reduce costs and improve quality of care.