profession
Many emergency doctors concerned about being sued
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 6, 2011
The fear of being sued is a major concern for many emergency physicians, and that affects day-to-day patient care, says a poll released May 23 by the American College of Emergency Physicians.
More than half of 1,768 emergency physicians surveyed said such concerns drive them to order more tests, and 44% said fear of lawsuits is the biggest challenge to reducing emergency department costs.
Passage of the health reform law hasn't helped alleviate those concerns. Sixty-eight percent of respondents said the law hasn't made specialists more willing to treat emergency patients (link).
ACEP supports two bills moving through the House of Representatives that involve tort reform. "Medical liability reform is essential to meaningful health care reform. Without it, health care costs will continue to rise," said ACEP President Sandra Schneider, MD.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/06/06/prbf0606.htm.
