Billions for Defense: The Pervasive Nature of Defensive Medicine
Physicians practice defensive medicine all the time—some acknowledge and accept it, while others believe it is untrue and unconscionable. The Doctors Company CEO and Chairman Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, examines the pervasive nature of defensive medicine in this article.
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Is American Healthcare in Crisis?
Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Doctors Company and TDC Group, discusses the current state of the American healthcare system.
MPL Case: Could Closing the Loop Have Saved This Patient's Life?
Confirming a colleague’s receipt and understanding of serious findings is part of patient safety. Further, closed-loop communication expresses mutual respect, which contributes to professional satisfaction.
April 03, 2025, Cardiology Magazine
Critical Insights: Lessons From Delayed Diagnosis, Treatment in the ED
John P. Erwin III, MD, MBA, MACC, Chair, Department of Internal Medicine, Prisma Health Upstate; Clinical Professor, School of Medicine Greenville, University of South Carolina; and Debra A. Davidson, MJ, CPHRM, CPPS, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, review how care and treatment delays contribute to poor patient outcomes and medical malpractice litigation.
Healthcare Cybersecurity Resources
It’s not a matter of if a data breach will occur in your medical practice—it’s a matter of when. Make sure your practice is prepared with these resources.
November 13, 2025, Inside Medical Liability
MPL Case: Could Timely Diagnosis Have Preserved This Patient’s Vision?
Despite thorough subject-matter knowledge, physicians can miss the diagnosis of a familiar condition because of issues with clinical judgment. Clinical judgment may be influenced by distraction, interruption, or team communication issues. A new study of malpractice allegations against ophthalmologists suggests that when practices build teamwork skills, they strengthen patient safety and mitigate practice risks.
February 19, 2025, JAMA Network Open
Ambient Listening—Legal and Ethical Issues
Ambient listening, which involves using AI to record and analyze conversations between clinicians and patients, is one area of early AI adoption among healthcare professionals. I. Glenn Cohen, JD; Julie Ritzman, MBA, CPHRM; and Richard F. Cahill, JD, provide a comprehensive analysis of the legal and ethical considerations associated with the use of ambient listening technologies in healthcare settings.
Professional Education
Shoulder Dystocia Clinician-Patient Disclosure
This enduring activity is designed to assist physicians and advanced practice clinicians (APCs) in enhancing their communication skills when disclosing a shoulder dystocia injury to patients and family members. This type of injury to the infant may, unfortunately, occur despite the best of care; however, effective physician-patient communication is an integral part of clinical practice and has been shown to positively influence outcomes by increasing patient understanding and trust.
Plastic Surgery Closed Claims Study Reveals Most Common Case Types
In this study of plastic surgery closed claims, The Doctors Company looks at the most common case types, most common patient injuries, primary drivers / frequent allegations, and strategies for mitigating risk for both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.
Social Inflation Causes Between $2.4 and $3.5 Billion of All Medical Malpractice Losses, The Doctors Company Study Finds
In the decade ending in 2021, between $2.4 and $3.5 billion, or 8 to 11 percent, of all medical malpractice losses incurred by physician-focused insurers stemmed from social inflation, according to new research from The Doctors Company, the nation’s largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer and part of TDC Group.
