A recent study revealed that many neurosurgeons practicing across the United States are guilty of using "defensive medicine" tactics. What does this mean exactly for the patient? These surgeons are often performing additional procedures and tests to avoid being hit with medical malpractice lawsuits, instead of looking out for the patient's health.

While more tests and extra medical precautions may sound like a good thing, it often results in increased health care costs and misplaced motivations from doctors. Orthopedic surgery, obstetrics, and neurosurgery are all specialties known to have high risks for expensive medical malpractice claims. This often leads doctors to make medical decisions out of fear of legal action, rather than the patient's best interests.

Taking a Closer Look at the Statistics

The journal Neurosurgery published a study by researchers that surveyed more than 1,000 board-certified neurosurgeons, a majority of which were practicing in high-risk liability states. This means that their state laws allowed for more legal action to be taken in the case of medical malpractice and often had high insurance premiums for coverage.

According to the study, more than 80% of the surgeons who responded said that they had at some point order imaging tests for the sole purpose of protecting themselves from legal action from their patients. More than 75% claimed to have ordered lab tests and given extra referrals for the same reason. Furthermore, roughly 50% of the surgeons admitted to ordering additional medications and procedures out of the fear of being sued if they failed to do so.

Not only do the statistics reveal that surgeons in increased liability states practice defensive medicine, but they also performed less high-risk procedures, such as brain surgery and other complicated treatments. Why such precautions? A high-risk state may require a neurosurgeon to pay nearly twice as much in medical malpractice premiums than a surgeon in a low-risk state, further demonstrating the pressure these professionals feel.

Unfortunately, defensive medicine practices do not put the patient first and can contribute to lack of efficiency, increased costs, and unnecessary burdens on the health care system.