New Survey Reports Physicians Think They are Losing Control of Medicine

A survey released today from Jackson Healthcare reports that the majority of physicians surveyed (74 percent) feel they have less control over the way they practice medicine than they did five years ago.

According to the survey results, the cause is a combination of the threat of medical malpractice litigation, as well as insurance and government interference. However, 85 percent said the threat of medical malpractice litigation is their primary hindrance to practicing medicine as they see fit.

“We found that regardless of a physician’s political affiliation, the respondents attributed the practice of defensive medicine to excessive waste in the healthcare system,” reported Rick Jackson, chairman and CEO of Jackson Healthcare.

Jackson found that 62 percent of physicians disagreed with the American Medical Association’s (AMA) stance on healthcare reform. Of those, 46 percent said they “strongly disagree” with the AMA’s stance.

When asked which piece of existing legislation they most support, 44 percent selected HR 3400, 15 percent selected HR 3200, 7 percent selected the Senate Finance Committee bill and 19 percent supported none of these plans.

Although no piece of existing legislation “very strongly” represented physician views, a large majority of respondents agreed that the number one element to be included in any piece of healthcare legislation is tort reform, which was selected by 92 percent of the physicians Jackson interviewed.

Other key elements physicians want included in legislation: