RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Trends in negative defensive medicine within general practice.
JF British Journal of General Practice
JO Br J Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 565
OP 566
VO 50
IS 456
A1 Summerton, N
YR 2000
UL http://bjgp.org/content/50/456/565.abstract
AB Negative defensive medical practice has adverse consequences both for individual patients and for public health. This paper reports the results from a survey conducted in 1999 in which certain features indicative of negative defensive practice were compared with an identical survey conducted five years previously. Responding general practitioners stated that they are now significantly more likely to undertake diagnostic testing, refer patients, and avoid the treatment of certain conditions.