Question

In 200 words explain what is defensive medicine and how does it impact health care cost, quality, and access? How will we see the use of defensive medicine shift as we move forward with the Affordable Care Act? Cite references to support your DQ post.

Answer 1

Defensive medicine is the medical decision by the physician for laboratory investigation for patient which is not necessary to go for it.

It impacts health care cost and quality by maximizing the malpractice liability, Supplemeting care by ordering unnecessary tests and treatment, Replaces care by making referrals to other physicians or other institutions, reducing care by treatment refusal for patients, if it is widely practised landed up in increased healthcare cost and low quality health care provided.

The defensive medicine problem will get more worse under affordable care act as they have fewer physicians and more number of patients to take care with healthcare coverage. It results in medical errors. Patients gets harmed and compensation losses incur with destruction in physician patient relationship.