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. 2013;8(3):e57108.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057108. Epub 2013 Mar 6.

Defensive medicine among obstetricians and gynecologists in tertiary hospitals

Elad Asher  1 , Shay Dvir, Daniel S Seidman, Sari Greenberg-Dotan, Alon Kedem, Boaz Sheizaf, Haim Reuveni
Affiliations

Defensive medicine among obstetricians and gynecologists in tertiary hospitals

Elad Asher et al. PLoS One. 2013.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the daily work practice under the threat of defensive medicine among obstetricians and gynecologists.

Study design: A prospective cross-sectional survey of obstetricians and gynecologists working at tertiary medical centers in Israel.

Results: Among 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.

Conclusions: Defensive medicine is a well-embedded phenomenon affecting the medical decision process of obstetricians and gynecologists.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Concern regarding legal claims in the work of the OB-GYNs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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