The Daily Stat: Most Doctors Admit to Practicing Defensive Medicine

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   AUTHORS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile MARCH 23, 2010 Most Doctors Admit to Practicing Defensive Medicine 83% of physicians in a survey acknowledge practicing "defensive" medicine, ordering excessive tests and procedures to avert lawsuits, according to the Massachusetts Medical Society. The study also shows that 13% of hospitalizations are ordered for defensive reasons. Defensive medicine is often cited as a major reason why health care costs are high in the United States. Source: Massachusetts Medical Society Share Today's Stat: RELATED PRODUCT Six Ways Companies Mismanage Risk Harvard Business Review Article Risk management is hard to get right even in the best of times. It can take one of six paths to failure, nearly all of them exemplified in the current crisis. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Stat: BEST SELLERS 10 Must-Read Articles from HBR Guide to Better Business Writing HBR 2009: A Year of Management Ideas HBR's Must-Reads on Managing Yourself How to Get the Right Work Done PREVIOUS STATS Mergers Market Seems Poised to Accelerate All-Day Snacking Starts Very Young A Dramatic Decline for Leveraged Buyouts Being Green: The Power of Strong Winds Real Health Costs About the Same as Car Ownership To Improve Business in the Developing World, Educate Women The Business Cost of March Madness In the Social-Media Era, Email Lives On Chinese Are Increasingly Obsessed with the Web Why You're Hungry When You Watch Movies HBR Online Trial Access HBR's in-depth business archives FREE for 14 days. Register today » UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "The Daily Stat" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 1-800-545-7685 (617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)