-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
defensive medicine
noun
: the practice of ordering medical tests, procedures, or consultations of doubtful clinical value in order to protect the prescribing physician from malpractice suits
Examples of defensive medicine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And hefty verdicts encourage defensive medicine—doctors aiming to shield themselves order unnecessary tests, which pushes up health care costs.
—Glen Luke Flanagan, Fortune, 5 July 2024
The exact amount of spending increase is unknown, but some estimate that defensive medicine adds at least $55 billion per year to U.S. healthcare costs.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 2 July 2024
Initiate tort reform, to help alleviate the practice of defensive medicine.
—Carolyn Barber, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2020
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1969, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of defensive medicine was
in 1969
Dictionary Entries Near defensive medicine
Cite this Entry
“Defensive medicine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defensive%20medicine. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
Medical Definition
defensive medicine
noun
: the practice of ordering medical tests, procedures, or consultations of doubtful clinical value in order to protect the prescribing physician from malpractice suits
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share