Question

It has been reported that because providers fear litigation, they often order testing on clients that is not actually necessary just to be certain that no “stone is left unturned.” Discuss the implications of this practice for the provider, the client, and health care in general.

Answer 1

In today's world, safe and appropriate practicing of medication is the fundamental responsibility of every health care provider and institution. But day to day rise in the number of malpractice litigation has raised a serious question on the health care system and its stakeholders.

Due to a significant increase in litigation cases, a new type of fear has developed inside the physicians. Because of that, they often order testing on clients that is not actually necessary, make partial reports of the whole incident as well as treatment, administer only defensive medicine and hide details from the client.

When we see this scenario from health care provider's (Hospitals and Medical Clinic) point of view, we will find these kinds of litigations hit hard on their financial status as well as social image. They losses some of their most important staff member which creates a very negative impression on their image.

It is quite obvious that when the health care professional will hide things from their patient then it will create a situation of unhealthy relationship between the provider and the client. Additional unnecessary tests will also make a hard hit on their pocket and they will not receive the quality and effective treatment. Though, these litigations help the clients to get justice if they had faced any malpractice in the past but that's a long-time taking process and the first priority of the client is to get a good healthcare service which they don't get mostly.