Trends in negative defensive medicine within general practice

Negative defensive medical practice has adverse consequences both for indiv idual patients and for public health. This paper reports the results from a survey conducted in 1999 in which certain features indicative of negative defensive practice were compared with an identical survey conducted five ye ars previously. Responding general practitioners stated that they are now s ignificantly more likely to undertake diagnostic testing, refer patients, a nd avoid the treatment of certain conditions.