Medical malpractice: the effect of doctor-patient relations on medical patient perceptions and malpractice intentions.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the causal effects of doctor-patient relations and the severity of a medical outcome on medical patient perceptions and malpractice intentions in the event of an adverse medical outcome.


METHODS
Randomized between-subjects experimental design. Patients were given scenarios depicting interactions between an obstetric patient and her physician throughout the patient's pregnancy, labor, and delivery.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-eight postpartum obstetric patients were approached for participation, of whom 104 completed the study. Main outcome measures Patients' perceptions of physician competence and intentions to file a malpractice claim.


RESULTS
Positive physician communication behaviors increased patients' perceptions of physician competence and decreased malpractice claim intentions toward both the physician and the hospital. A more severe outcome increased only patients' intentions to sue the hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide empiric evidence for a direct, causal effect of the doctor-patient relationship on medical patients' treatment perceptions and malpractice claim intentions in the event of an adverse medical outcome.
Moore
P J
PJ
Department of Psychology George Washington University School of Medicine 2125 G St NW Washington, DC 20052, USA. pjmoore@gwu.edu
Adler
N E
NE
Robertson
P A
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome