More than three-fourths of U.S. neurosurgeons practice some form of defensive medicine, according to a special article in the February issue of Neurosurgery.
The survey study includes responses from 1,026 board-certified neurosurgeons.
Here are seven key findings from the study:
1. More than 80 percent of surgeons said they had ordered imaging tests solely for defensive reasons.
2. More than three-fourths reported ordering laboratory tests and making extra referrals for defensive purposes.
3. Up to half said they ordered more medications and procedures out of fear of being sued.
In states with high risk of liability:
4. Nearly half of neurosurgeons said they had stopped performing high-risk procedures because of liability concerns.
5. Nearly one-fourth had stopped performing brain surgery for fear of being sued.
6. Close to 40 percent said they were considering retirement because of the local liability environment.
7. Neurosurgeons in these states paid almost twice as much in malpractice insurance premiums as those in low-risk states.
"Defensive medicine practices do not align with patient-centered care, and may contribute to increased inefficiency in an already taxed health care system," noted study authors.
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