Defensive medicine is one of those things that has two sides to it. On the one hand, you understand why medical professionals and medical institutions bow to defensive medicine because it eliminates a lot of potential conditions that a patient may have and it narrows the search for the true cause of the patient’s condition. It also limits the potential liability of the medical professional and/or institution.
But on the other hand, defensive medicine may not necessarily serve the patient, and it can actually lead to delays in diagnosing or treating a potentially serious condition. Here is where we see the true danger posed by defensive medicine. Not the logical reason behind it from the medical institution’s point of view, but the true cost of defensive medicine: the negative effect on patients.
Delays in diagnosing a patient’s condition can allow the condition to run rampant and become much worse. It could allow the condition to become permanent or cause permanent damage. It could even make it more difficult to diagnose the problem, or even make it more likely that a mistake is made, either by doctors or nurses who are constantly running around and dealing with other patients while also deploying this “defensive medicine.”
Ultimately, you have to protect yourself when negligent or poor medical care results in unfortunate circumstances for you. Should this happen, please give Judy Snyder a call. Her law office has the experience and knowledge necessary to appropriately deal with cases of medical malpractice or medical errors.