Caring For Patients In A Malpractice Crisis: Physician Satisfaction And Quality Of Care

Authors

Michelle M. Mello
David M. Studdert
Catherine M. DesRoches
Jordon Peugh
Kinga Zapert
Troyen A. Brennan
William M. Sage, Texas A&M University School of LawFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2004

Journal Title

Health Affairs

ISSN

0278-2715

DOI

10.1377/hlthaff.23.4.42

Abstract

The rhetoric of malpractice reform is at fever pitch, but political advocacy does not necessarily reflect grassroots opinion. To determine whether the ongoing liability crisis has greatly reduced physicians’ professional satisfaction, we surveyed specialist physicians in Pennsylvania. We found widespread discontent among physicians practicing in high-liability environments, which seems to be compounded by other financial and administrative pressures. Opinion alone should not determine public policy, but physicians’ perceptions matter for two reasons. First, perceptions influence behavior with respect to practice environment and clinical decision making. Second, perceptions influence the physician-patient relationship and the interpersonal quality of care.

First Page

42

Last Page

53

Num Pages

12

Volume Number

23

Issue Number

4

Publisher

Project HOPE

Recommended Citation

Michelle M. Mello, David M. Studdert, Catherine M. DesRoches, Jordon Peugh, Kinga Zapert, Troyen A. Brennan & William M. Sage, Caring For Patients In A Malpractice Crisis: Physician Satisfaction And Quality Of Care, 23 Health Affs. 42 (2004).
Available at: https://scholarship.law.tamu.edu/facscholar/1728