title: Defensive medicine among obstetricians and gynecologists in tertiary hospitals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the daily work practice under the threat of defensive medicine among obstetricians and gynecologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cross-sectional survey of obstetricians and gynecologists working at tertiary medical centers in Israel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 117 obstetricians and gynecologists who participated in the survey, representing 10% of the obstetricians and gynecologists registered by the Israel Medical Association, 113 (97%) felt that their daily work practice is influenced by concern about being sued for medical negligence and not only by genuine medical considerations. As a result, 102 (87%) physicians are more likely to offer the cesarean section option, even in the absence of a clear medical indication, 70 (60%) follow court rulings concerning medical practices, and 85 (73%) physicians mentioned that discussions about medical negligence court rulings are included in their departments' meetings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Defensive medicine is a well-embedded phenomenon affecting the medical decision process of obstetricians and gynecologists.
authors.affiliation: Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel. El.asher@gmail.com
authors.forename: Elad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Asher
authors.forename: Shay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dvir
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Seidman
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greenberg-Dotan
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kedem
authors.forename: Boaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sheizaf
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reuveni
mesh_terms: D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003675:Defensive Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007878:Legislation as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data