Defensive medicine and medical liability: A Cross-sectional study in Kasr Alainy Obstetrics and Gynecology hospital

Abstract

Background and Aims: Defensive medicine is medicine practiced in such a way primarily to avoid or defend against the threat of malpractice litigation. The rate of practice of defensive medicine has been increasing in recent years across the world. High percentages of defensive medicine have a significant economic cost through affecting doctors’ decisions. The problem is compounded in Egypt as it currently lacks a medical litigation law, and doctors in Egypt are tried by the criminal law instead. This study aims to identify the practice of defensive medicine in light of such conditions, as well as highlight some of its causes. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted by a self-administered questionnaire among obstetricians and gynecologists of Kasr Alainy University OBGYN Hospital. It included 160 doctors from a total of 250 doctors. Binary logistic regression and Chi square tests were used to calculate the predictors of practice of defensive medicine and its forms. Results: (81%) of the doctors practiced at least one form of defensive medicine. Many predictors were significant including duration of practice, gender (male), witnessing a colleague getting sued or personally getting sued, and feeling limited in practice due to the current state of the law. Conclusions: The practice of Defensive medicine in Kasr Alainy OBGYN Hospital is considerably high but still in line with other countries. The lack of medical law is a significant factor, but there are other factors affecting the practice of defensive medicine. Efforts to reduce defensive medicine must start with enacting a medical law.