question re:suing

[MissMedicine]

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um, not saying where i got this question but is a patient more likely to sue after having a normal breast exam by her doc... when in fact few months later she had an abnl mammogram if:

- she got breast cancer
-poor communication bw doc and patient

thanks

 

[Zummy]

poor communication with doctor, most definitely

 

[StringBean]

I agree! 🙂

 

[MissMedicine]

ok i am confused.. wasnt there a similar qbank question and the answer was she got breast cancer...or am i remembering wrong.

ok i am confused...she would still sue if she didnt end up having breast cancer? and how is this a communication issue? it sounds like competency to me?

 

[Stinger86]

According to most sources, most lawsuits occur as a direct (or indirect depending on how you look at it) consequence of a poor doctor/patient relationship.

Also, due to this reasoning, we now have a standardized clinical skills exam to take after our 3rd year 😡

 

[MissMedicine]

ok so lets say in clinical trials misses a fatal/serious SE of a drug.

is it bc :

the subjects of the clinical trial were healthy
there werent enough subjects to catch a rare event

 

[Mirror Form]

According to most sources, most lawsuits occur as a direct (or indirect depending on how you look at it) consequence of a poor doctor/patient relationship.

Yes, but it also requires a bad outcome (like breast cancer). If there is an abnormal mammogram, but it turns out just to be a benign lump, I'd say she's much less likely to sue then if she had terminal breast cancer, regardless of communication.

 

[MissMedicine]

yea, i remember a very similar qbank question and i think the answer was bad outcome? no?

why would you sue if you didnt end up having breast cancer?

 

[jakstat33]

The writers of the question are driving home the point that most lawsuits are a result of BAD COMMUNICATION... doctors with good communication skills have the least # of suits brought against them

yea, i remember a very similar qbank question and i think the answer was bad outcome? no?

why would you sue if you didnt end up having breast cancer?

 

[Stinger86]

Yes, but it also requires a bad outcome (like breast cancer). If there is an abnormal mammogram, but it turns out just to be a benign lump, I'd say she's much less likely to sue then if she had terminal breast cancer, regardless of communication.

Right, but the point is that if there is a strong doctor/patient relationship, the chance of any kind of medical lawsuit is reasonably decreased. At least, that's what we're being taught.

And besides, who knows what a person will sue a doctor over? But you can at least know that a patient who has a good relationship with her doctor will be less likely to sue for anything in the future than a patient who didn't have a good relationship with her doctor.

 

[jakstat33]

And besides, who knows what a person will sue a doctor over? But you can at least know that a patient who has a good relationship with her doctor will be less likely to sue for anything in the future than a patient who didn't have a good relationship with her doctor.

Exactly! Its quite possible that someone has sued a doctor for the "emotionally draining routine" of a mammogram which turned out 👍