Rude MDs Set Themselves Up for Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
All Certified Legal Nurse Consultants will want to read this new study from Johns Hopkins University. This study tellingly proves that new doctors have poor doctor/patient etiquette. I’ve already blogged about how little time doctors spend with patients. But the problem with the physician/patient relationship is even worse than I imagined.
This new study measured five valued communication skills to judge the quality of interaction. What the authors discovered is that in what little time the new doctors spend with patients, they are unlikely to introduce themselves or to sit and have an eye-to-eye conversation with their patients. In short, or in total, the new doctors only performed all five measured behaviors during just four percent of their visits.
Rudeness and the lack of a connection between the provider and patient can set the stage for medical malpractice lawsuits. I’ve been involved in medical malpractice cases in which the doctor wasn’t competent, but the bedside manner was so good the plaintiff wouldn’t include the M.D. in the lawsuit. On the other hand, as every CLNC® consultant knows, a plaintiff won’t hesitate to sue a healthcare provider (doctor or nurse) who was consistently rude or inattentive.
We now know doctors learn many of their bad habits early in their careers. What’s it going to take to change their behavior? More lawsuits?
I’m Just Askin’
P.S.Comment and share medical malpractice cases in which rudeness by a healthcare provider contributed to the lawsuit.
2 thoughts on “Rude MDs Set Themselves Up for Medical Malpractice Lawsuits”
I am working on a cervical epidural case where the patient not only was not given an informed consent, but she was not told anything about the procedure. She had a severe complication and called the MD’s office requesting he return her call. When she finally saw him and asked why he did not call her he said, “I don’t call my patients, I have too many.”
Days later when her symptoms were much worse she went into his office to see him and he said, “You can go to the ED if you want to, but there is nothing wrong with you.” Luckily her daughter-in-law was with her and took her to the ED after they left his office and she was diagnosed by MRI with a severe complication and admitted.
I can’t help but get mad when I hear about this type of rudeness.
Right out of nursing school in 1974, I met Dr. D., a surgeon originally from a large surgical practice in the Northeast, who performed the majority of the procedures in our little county hospital. Dr. D had a habit of screaming at certain members of the healthcare staff (including physicians) in front of patients. Red flags were raised due to complications suffered by his surgery patients that resulted in litigation. Complications included a severed ureter, instrumental bowel perforation, numerous episodes of excessive post-op bleeding in gyn patients. The hospital investigated and found Dr. D. had actually been given the choice between resignation or termination from his prior practice in the Northeast for the same problems. Very shortly thereafter, Dr. D left our small county hospital as well. For years I wondered where this inept surgeon went and how many others he may have injured over the years.
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*The opinions and statements made by Vickie Milazzo, the founder of Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc. are based on her experiences and expertise, should not be applied beyond the specific context provided, and do not guaranty or project actual results. Vickie Milazzo is no longer involved in the operations or management of the business, but is involved as an independent education consultant.
I am working on a cervical epidural case where the patient not only was not given an informed consent, but she was not told anything about the procedure. She had a severe complication and called the MD’s office requesting he return her call. When she finally saw him and asked why he did not call her he said, “I don’t call my patients, I have too many.”
Days later when her symptoms were much worse she went into his office to see him and he said, “You can go to the ED if you want to, but there is nothing wrong with you.” Luckily her daughter-in-law was with her and took her to the ED after they left his office and she was diagnosed by MRI with a severe complication and admitted.
I can’t help but get mad when I hear about this type of rudeness.
Right out of nursing school in 1974, I met Dr. D., a surgeon originally from a large surgical practice in the Northeast, who performed the majority of the procedures in our little county hospital. Dr. D had a habit of screaming at certain members of the healthcare staff (including physicians) in front of patients. Red flags were raised due to complications suffered by his surgery patients that resulted in litigation. Complications included a severed ureter, instrumental bowel perforation, numerous episodes of excessive post-op bleeding in gyn patients. The hospital investigated and found Dr. D. had actually been given the choice between resignation or termination from his prior practice in the Northeast for the same problems. Very shortly thereafter, Dr. D left our small county hospital as well. For years I wondered where this inept surgeon went and how many others he may have injured over the years.