As the doctors of first contact the majority of referrals within our health service arise from general practice. Delay is an endemic feature in our health service, beyond the influence of the referring doctor. Some may now refer patients earlier, resulting in an increase in their overall level of referral, creating further delay. It is intolerable that appropriate referral may be adversely affected by the further insidious growth of defensive medical practice which may appear to protect doctors but can hardly be recommended for the benefit of patients. Such strategies divert the doctor's concern from the patient's problems and introduce distortions to the doctor's behaviour.
Defensive doctors investigate, prescribe and refer more.
The irony is it may not protect doctors from legal predators. Self protection could be construed as a basis for legal challenge. Doctors should be guided exclusively by concern for the patient's best interests in all aspects of their professional behaviour. It is becoming clear that a fundamental shift in mindset has taken place in sections of the legal profession. Open season has been declared on all doctors.