Attitudes of physicians in northern Ontario to medical malpractice litigation.
OBJECTIVE
To survey medical practitioners' experience with and attitudes toward litigation alleging medical malpractice.


METHODS
A survey using a questionnaire.


METHODS
The Sudbury and Manitoulin Health District of Northern Ontario.


METHODS
Medical practitioners in the area.


RESULTS
Physicians are sometimes negligent; malpractice is not simply created by entrepreneurial lawyers and patients with unrealistic expectations. At present malpractice is restrained by both the threat of civil litigation and the disciplinary committee of the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons.


CONCLUSIONS
We must address the fear of malpractice suits if the North is to attract and retain the physicians it needs to provide modern standards of medical care.
Cook
W R
WR
Department of Economics, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ont.
Neff
C
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D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D003675:Defensive Medicine; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D008511:Medicine; D009864:Ontario; D018024:Peer Review, Health Care; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011361:Professional Competence; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires