15% of doctors probed in past year

Around 15% of doctors have had a claim for negligence or a complaint investigated by the Irish Medical Council in the last 12 months.

The survey of 182 doctors by the Medical Protection Society also found that 80% of doctors practice defensively to avoid claims and complaints.

Doctors who practice defensively may order more investigations, change their prescribing habits, or avoid certain procedures to help protect themselves, not because it is in the best interests of their patients.

The society said it conducted the survey to find out whether a fear of complaints and claims was leading to doctors changing they way they practiced.

Almost all (93%) of those surveyed said they believed doctors were now more likely to be the subject of a claim or complaint.

Two thirds believed patients expecting more to be the primary cause of claims or complaints; 43% believed it was due to reduced standards of care; while 39% said it is a result of the tough economic environment.

Stephanie Bown, MPS director of policy and communications, said it was their experience that many claims and complaints were due to poor communication between the doctor and patient, not substandard care.

“As a doctor, you cannot always guarantee a successful outcome for every patient, but if you have managed your patient’s treatment appropriately; communicated effectively from the beginning; and kept quality notes, it will reduce the risk of the patient bringing a successful complaint or a claim,” said Dr Bown.

She said a positive aspect of the survey was that, of the doctors who said they practiced defensively, 59% strongly agreed they kept more detailed records; 61% were more careful to ensure follow-up arrangements were in place; and 38% held more investigations.

Dr Bown, speaking ahead of the MPS GP conference in Dublin tomorrow, said defensive medicine was different from defensible practice, and could make a doctor’s practice more risky.

She said the conference was to make GPs aware of some of the medico-legal risks in general practice and advise on how to manage them without letting the fear of being sued adversely affect they way they delivered care.

The society provides comprehensive professional indemnity and expert advice to more than 16,000 doctors, dentists and health professionals in Ireland, including 70% of GPs and has more than 280,000 members worldwide.

Meanwhile, the National Association of General Practitioners, in a pre-budget submission, urged the Government to build and fund general practice so that it does not collapse under the strain of cutbacks. Chairman Dr Andy Jordan, said 8% of GP practices are under financial risk of closing.

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