Malpractice insurance could add RD$300,000 to RD$400,000 a year to the cost of being a doctor in the Dominican Republic. But given the numerous rulings in favor of patients, physicians are seriously considering purchasing civil responsibility insurance to cover the risk of malpractice claims.
In an interview with Listin Diario, Dr. Severo Mercedes said: “The disproportionate increase in medical lawsuits produces many negative effects because it causes restlessness, anxiety, and uncertainty in the professional practice and leads to what is called defensive medicine.”
This is when doctors find themselves forced to indicate a series of studies that will increase the costs of medical practice.
Dr. Mercedes said doctors will see themselves having to contract civil liability insurance, which will also increase the costs of the practice, which is detrimental to the doctor-patient relationship.
Dr. Mercedes in addition to being a medical doctor has a law firm specializing in contracting of legal services for physicians.
There is a boom in demand for lawyers specializing in medical lawsuits now that judges have begun to rule in favor of the patients ordering millions in claims to be paid by the government, hospitals and physicians.
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Listin Diario
30 April 2024