MALPRACTICE LITIGATION FEAR AND RISK MANAGEMENT BELIEFS AMONG TEACHING HOSPITAL PHYSICIANS

We address four major issues related to physicians' fear of litigation : What are physicians' attitudes and beliefs toward malpractice? To wh om or what do they attribute the ''malpractice crisis''? Is fear of li tigation associated with demographic and practice variables? What meas ures do physicians take to reduce risk? Hospital physicians in a south eastern health science center were surveyed (N = 356). Physicians attr ibuted the malpractice crisis to circumstances outside medicine and be yond their control, perceived some patients as suit-prone, and reporte d altering their practice to avoid being sued. Litigation fear was ass ociated with physicians who were female, younger, not board certified, less clinically experienced, more clinically active, defendants in pr ior lawsuits, and in high-risk specialties. Physicians who were especi ally fearful of litigation placed less value in risk-management techni ques. The findings are important in understanding how the prospect of litigation is perceived by physicians and how that perception may affe ct medical practice.