ATLANTA, GA (June 24, 2011) - In a recent survey of physicians in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada and Sweden, none reported practicing defensive medicine, which describes the ordering of medically unnecessary tests, treatments or consultations to avoid lawsuits.
This contrasts with similar studies of U.S. physicians. In 2010, separate U.S. physician surveys by Gallup and Jackson Healthcare found that 73 percent and 92 percent, respectively, admitted to making medical decisions to avoid lawsuits.
"The reason physicians in other countries don't make medical decisions to avoid lawsuits is that they are not personally financially liable for errors," reports Richard L. Jackson, chairman and CEO of Jackson Healthcare. "They enjoy protections under their medical malpractice systems that U.S. physicians don't."
Atlanta-based staffing and technology company, Jackson Healthcare, retained Survey Pacific to complete telephone surveys of physicians in four countries. Results are based on telephone interviews with 200 randomly selected physicians in each country.
Jackson is currently working on federal and state-specific solutions that protect patients, while reducing defensive medicine.
About Jackson Healthcare
Founded by the healthcare innovator Richard L. Jackson, Jackson Healthcare serves more than two million patients in nearly one thousand hospitals each year. The Jackson family of companies provides physician and clinician staffing, anesthesia and radiology management and healthcare information technology solutions proven to improve clinical and financial outcomes, as well as increase operational efficiency.
Jackson Healthcare has earned national media coverage for its physician polls and champions local and international charitable work. In addition, Jackson has been recognized as one of the largest and fastest growing staffing companies in the country by the Inc. Magazine, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia Trend and Staffing Industry Analysts. For more information about Jackson and its companies, visit JacksonHealthcare.com.
For more information contact Keith Jennings at [email protected] or 678-690-7942.