Where Medicine Meets Law

By Jaanu

34% of U.S. physicians have been sued, according to a 2017 report by the American Medical Association. 88% of these doctors win their case, or find it dismissed, according to the same report. So why is it that doctors are sued? And how can it be prevented?

Almost all lawsuits are brought in anger. Anger stems from a perceived lack of one of our core needs as humans— safety, comfort, feeling respected, loved, etc. In the hospital, a place where patients and families experience some of the most challenging moments of their lives, people want more than anything to feel heard. Difficult moments in the hospital are inevitable. All doctors will lose patients— but what is within control is how they communicate with patients and families. Listen to them, says Bruce Becker, a professor of “Emergency Medical Systems: Anatomy of Critical Performance” at Brown University. He suggests proving that you’re listening by sitting down. Show that you’re there for the patient.

“The more you feel like leaving the room, the more you must make yourself stay,” said Dr. Becker. Many doctors are irked or overwhelmed by patients who ask Google or ChatGPT about their symptoms and who insist on sharing their findings. But all expressed concerns must be addressed. Amidst the hazy stress of the hospital, patients and families might not remember discharge instructions, but they will remember feeling heard and understood. 😌