Defensive medicine is a driver of overmedicalisation

Mathew makes several excellent points on the need for political policies to tackle overmedicalisation,1 but an important factor not mentioned is defensive medicine.The fear of litigation or receiving a complaint because of inaction or deviation from guidelines is an uncomfortable element in many clinicians’ decision making.2 I have often heard the phrase, “It is better to be safe than sorry,” in healthcare settings, from both patients and staff. But in cases of over-intervention, this does not acknowledge the potential risks to the patient. Incidental findings on scans or blood tests might require further investigation, which can cause a great deal of anxiety, not to mention the physical risks associated with repeated exposure to radiation and invasive testing that a patient might experience. By trying to avoid a poor outcome by over-investigating or over-prescribing, we might be inadvertently harming our patients.Dealing with uncertainty requires shared decision making, trust, and time to…
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