Health News

Eighty-three percent of physicians surveyed in Massachusetts say they practice so-called "defensive medicine" because they are concerned they might be sued by patients, a trend that adds at least $1.4 billion annually to state health care costs, according to a report by the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Boston Herald reports. Last year, the society surveyed 900 physicians about their use of X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, laboratory testing, specialty referrals, consultations and hospital admissions. The report found that physicians who practiced defensive medicine said they ordered 18% to 28% of the tests, procedures, referrals and consultations to protect themselves if they were sued (McConville, Boston Herald, 11/18). The survey also found that 13% of hospitalizations were ordered to avoid lawsuits.

In addition, 28% of physicians surveyed said that liability concerns affected the care they provided "a lot," and 38% said that they reduced the number of high-risk services they performed (Lazar, href="http://www…