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Defensive Medicine in Israel – A Nationwide Survey

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  • Elad Asher
  • Sari Greenberg-Dotan
  • Jonathan Halevy
  • Shimon Glick
  • Haim Reuveni

Abstract

Background: Defensive medicine is the practice of diagnostic or therapeutic measures conducted primarily as a safeguard against possible malpractice liability. We studied the extent, reasons, and characteristics of defensive medicine in the Israeli health care system. Methods and Findings: Cross-sectional study performed in the Israeli health care system between April and July 2008 in a sample (7%) of board certified physicians from eight medical disciplines (internal medicine, pediatrics, general surgery, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedic surgery, cardiology, and neurosurgery). A total of 889 physicians (7% of all Israeli board certified specialists) completed the survey. The majority [60%, (95%CI 0·57–0·63)] reported practicing defensive medicine; 40% (95%CI 0·37–0·43) consider every patient as a potential threat for a medical lawsuit; 25% (95%CI 0·22–0·28) have previously been sued at least once during their career. Independent predictors for practicing defensive medicine were surgical specialty [OR = 1.6 (95%CI 1·2–2·2), p = 0·0004], not performing a fellowship abroad [OR = 1·5 (95%CI 1·1–2), p = 0·027], and previous exposure to lawsuits [OR = 2·4 (95%CI 1·7–3·4), p

Suggested Citation

  • Elad Asher & Sari Greenberg-Dotan & Jonathan Halevy & Shimon Glick & Haim Reuveni, 2012. "Defensive Medicine in Israel – A Nationwide Survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(8), pages 1-7, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0042613
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042613
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel P. Kessler & Mark McClellan, 1996. "Do Doctors Practice Defensive Medicine?," NBER Working Papers 5466, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Daniel Kessler & Mark McClellan, 1996. "Do Doctors Practice Defensive Medicine?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 111(2), pages 353-390.
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    Cited by:

    1. Danilo Delpini & Paolo Russu, 2022. "The Effects of Defensive Medicine in Physician–Patient Dynamics: An Agent-Based Approach," Dynamic Games and Applications, Springer, vol. 12(4), pages 1067-1085, December.

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