Question

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF MALPRACTICE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PATIENT AND PROVIDER?​

Answer 1

Concerns regarding negligence can make patients nervous and impede a trustworthy and open interaction the cornerstone of doctor-patient relationships.Malpractice may even affect the cost of healthcare. Already, many Americans cannot afford adequate medical care.Physicians and other healthcare providers have long argued that malpractice claims are the leading cause of escalating healthcare costs. The worry is that as malpractice legal suits become more commonplace, and claimants receive settlements for millions of dollars, patients will have to swallow some of these costs through higher insurance premiums and doctor’s fees.
Malpractice insurance premiums for doctors can also affect patients. The premiums can vary drastically by state and by medical specialty. Rising premiums may cause doctors to move to states with more manageable costs, which in turn will greatly influence patient access to the best doctors. Access to healthcare may grow increasingly limited in areas where premiums are especially high.Another concern for patients arises from doctors practicing defensive medicine, a euphemism for the ordering of additional tests and procedures that are not strictly necessary but provide protection against claims of negligence and malpractice charges.Likewise

the effects of malpractice on doctors and other healthcare professionals is substantial. Being involved in a legal suit rarely involves only the insurance companies and the lawyers resolving the matter. Rather it is a great cause of stress in a healthcare professionals life. It can make professionals question their abilities, which can in turn affect their job performance. In some cases, when the cost of malpractice insurance becomes too high, healthcare providers leave the industry to find work in a related field that carries less risk of litigation.