The Effects of Medical Accidents and Litigation on Doctors and Patients

Bibliographic Data

ID6090108
AuthorsMaeve Ennis, Charles Vincent (0000-0003-0270-0222, University College London)
Year1994
Volume16
Issue2
Pages97-121
Publication date1994-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLaw & Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0265-8240 • E-ISSN: 1467-9930
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1467-9930.1994.tb00119.x
OpenAlexW2002551050
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited38

Medical accidents and litigation can have a profound and long lasting effect on both doctors and patients. Research has shown that for doctors, working in a profession which is intrinsically stressful, the added stress of litigation and accidents is leading to considerable strain and sometimes to maladaptive and inappropriate behaviors on the part of some doctors. For many it is leading to the practice of defensive medicine. For patients the picture is not better. Some are left with no clear idea of what has happened or why they have been injured by their medical treatment. Many are left needing further remedial treatment and for some the psychological effects are akin to those suffered by victims of major disasters. In this paper we have looked at these issues and have put forward proposals to suggest how things can be improved for both doctors and patients

Family medicine · Medical emergency · Medical profession · Political science · Remedial education · Disaster Response and Management · Ethics in medical practice · Law · Medical Malpractice and Liability Issues · Medicine · Psychology

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