Defensive Medicine among Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Tertiary Hospitals |
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| Authors: | Elad Asher Shay Dvir Daniel S. Seidman Sari Greenberg-Dotan Alon Kedem Boaz Sheizaf Haim Reuveni |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel.; 2. Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.; 3. Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel.; 4. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.; 5. Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran (Islamic Republic of), |
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| Abstract: | ObjectiveTo describe the daily work practice under the threat of defensive medicine among obstetricians and gynecologists.Study DesignA prospective cross-sectional survey of obstetricians and gynecologists working at tertiary medical centers in Israel.ResultsAmong the 117 obstetricians and gynecologists who participated in the survey, representing 10% of the obstetricians and gynecologists registered by the Israel Medical Association, 113 (97%) felt that their daily work practice is influenced by concern about being sued for medical negligence and not only by genuine medical considerations. As a result, 102 (87%) physicians are more likely to offer the cesarean section option, even in the absence of a clear medical indication, 70 (60%) follow court rulings concerning medical practices, and 85 (73%) physicians mentioned that discussions about medical negligence court rulings are included in their departments'' meetings.ConclusionsDefensive medicine is a well-embedded phenomenon affecting the medical decision process of obstetricians and gynecologists. |
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