A term for the overuse of diagnostic imaging performed to 'rule out' pathology for which there is a low clinical suspicion. Defensive imaging is meant to reduce the risk of a lawsuit for a potentially treatable condition, such as indiscriminant CTs of the head for any minor bump to exclude subdural haematoma

References in periodicals archive

orthopedic surgeons published by Sethi et al in 2012 found that defensive imaging represented 19 to 24% of all imaging ordered.

Medical malpractice and transoral robotic surgery: Evaluation and some preemptive thoughts

"This is the first study we know of that looked at the actual practice decisions of physicians regarding defensive imaging in real time--prospectively done," said John Flynn, 'M.D., associate chief of orthopaedic surgery at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pa.

Defensive imaging was responsible for $113,369 of $325,309 (34.8 percent) of total imaging charges for this patient cohort, based on Medicare dollars.

High imaging costs a result of defensive medicine, study claims

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Defensive Imaging