Tort, error and talk: What can we learn from the litigation crisis?

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Hugman, Bruce

Affiliations: PO Box 246, Amphur Muang, Chiang Rai, Thailand 57000 E-mail: mail@brucehugman.net

Note: [] Bruce Hugman is consultant to the Uppsala Monitoring Centre, Uppsala, Sweden and to the Clinical Drug Evaluation Committee of the Shanghai Pharmacology Institute; visiting lecturer in communications, Rangsit University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Abstract: The impact of medical litigation and its controversial and damaging consequences are reviewed, along with a number of the proposals for tort and other reforms. As an important effect of the threat of litigation, the practice of defensive medicine is discussed. Proposals are made for improvements in the quality of doctor–patient relationships as a significant contribution to improved clinical care and reduction in the risk of doctors being sued.

Journal: International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine, vol. 19, no. 1-2, pp. 75-86, 2007