title: Defensive medicine and outcomes for medical malpractice liability.
abstract: Defensive medicine is a significant force driving the high costs of healthcare systems and has a substantial influence on physicians' behavior because they primarily concern about malpractice liability and not patient's health protection. This attitude disagrees with deontological duties and could impair physicians' ability of judgment and clinical reasoning. Reducing defensive medicine also could mean improving the quality in healthcare systems and eliminating unnecessary costs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Responsabilità Sanitaria Sezione Dipartimentale di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni Università degli Studi di Milano.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Genovese
authors.affiliation: ASL Roma B UOC Qualità e RIsk Management.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Responsabilità Sanitaria Sezione Dipartimentale di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni Università degli Studi di Milano.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Del Sordo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Responsabilità Sanitaria Sezione Dipartimentale di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni Università degli Studi di Milano.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mobilia
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Responsabilità Sanitaria Sezione Dipartimentale di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni Università degli Studi di Milano.
authors.forename: Michelangelo B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Casali
mesh_terms: D003675:Defensive Medicine / Q000191:economics* / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007351:Insurance, Liability; D007558:Italy; D016365:Liability, Legal / Q000191:economics; D008318:Malpractice / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care