On the recordNovember 19, 2004
As an internist, internal medicine specialist, I did a lot of diagnostic tests. A lot of people come in the office saying I hurt here, I hurt there, I can't breathe when I walk. You do a physical examination, and you typically send people off for studies and tests. I regularly on a daily basis practiced defensive medicine. I would do my history and physical, and I would come to a conclusion as to what I thought that patient most likely had and then there was always that little voice in the back of my mind, what if you are wrong? What if you miss something? What if you get sued? What will happen to you if you get sued? Will it hurt your practice? Will you lose patients? Will you lose your house? These are the kinds of things that go through your mind. What you do is you order extra tests.
Source
govinfo.gov
