Defensive Medicine: Myths and Realities

Grigore Tinica (), Mihaela Tomaziu-Todosia (), Gabriel-Catalin Tomaziu-Todosia (), Raluca Ozana Chistol (), Diana Bulgaru-Iliescu () and Cristina Furnica ()
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Grigore Tinica: “Prof. Dr. George I.M. Georgescu†Cardiovascular Diseases Institute & “Grigore T. Popa†University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Mihaela Tomaziu-Todosia: “Grigore T. Popa†University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Gabriel-Catalin Tomaziu-Todosia: “Grigore T. Popa†University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Raluca Ozana Chistol: “Prof. Dr. George I.M. Georgescu†Cardiovascular Diseases Institute & “Grigore T. Popa†University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Diana Bulgaru-Iliescu: Forensic Medicine Institute & “Grigore T. Popa†University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Cristina Furnica: Forensic Medicine Institute & “Grigore T. Popa†University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania

Chapter 82 in Rethinking Social Action. Core Values in Practice, 2017, vol. 1, pp 898-910 from Editura Lumen

Abstract: The phenomenon of defensive medicine existed for decades in the United States but in Romania emerged lately following malpractice litigation and mass media aggression. Defensive medicine develops when doctors prescribe tests or procedures and avoid to treat high-risk patients or to perform certain high-risk procedures in order to reduce the risk of medical liability. This essay discusses the basis and principles of defensive medicine, analyses its causes and effects and debates the major problems affecting Romanian healthcare system, notably cross-border medical assistance. Finally, the authors examine alternatives to prevent defensive medicine practices with emphasis on cardiovascular surgery. Among physicians, some degree of defensive medicine will always exist, as long as malpractice risks shadow the doctors’ every footstep.

Keywords: defensive medicine; malpractice; cross-border medical assistance; healthcare system; medical liability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A3 I2 I3 M0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
ISBN: 978-1-910129-14-2
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:lum:prchap:01-82

DOI: 10.18662/lumproc.rsacvp2017.82

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