The pediatrician and Defensive medicine : Results of a survey conducted in university hospitals in central and south eastern Tunisia

Abstract

Defensive medicine is a medicine that consists of protecting oneself by asking for sometimes useless examinations or by giving up certain practices for fear of legal problems. Objective: Following the increase in the number of complaints against doctors in our region, we conducted this survey with the main purpose of determining the degree of influence of these events on the practice of a defensive medicine in pediatrics. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study based on an anonymous survey given to pediatric residents, specialists and university hospital doctors from various pediatric and neonatology departments in central and southern East Tunisia (March–June 2017). Results: 82 doctors were approached. During their course, 86.6% of pediatricians had at least one litigation, and 90% of the rest witnessed at least one litigation. 57.3% say that an incident influenced their behavior, so they practice a defensive medicine. More than half think that fear of complaint could change their future choice of working place. Conclusion: Defensive medicine is a new concept, poorly studied in Tunisia, and is a consequence of the judicialization of medicine.