title: The virtuous orthopaedist has fewer malpractice suits.
abstract: It generally is believed that physicians who have poor relationships with their patients are more likely to be sued. We studied certain physician characteristics and related them to their number of malpractice suits and the amount paid to settle those claims. Physicians with better rapport with their patients, who took more time to explain, and who were available had fewer malpractice suits. The most significant correlation was found in time spent with the patient. As the time spent increased, the number of suits decreased.
authors.affiliation: Beeson Seminary-Samford University, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Adamson
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Bunch
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oppenberg
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014481:United States