ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Defensive medicine

Defensive medicine is when doctors do extra tests or procedures just to protect themselves from getting sued. Imagine if you were playing a game and you wanted to make sure you didn't lose, so you did everything possible to protect yourself. That's what doctors do when they practice defensive medicine.

Doctors are very smart and they know a lot about the human body, but sometimes they can make mistakes. If they make a mistake and someone gets hurt, the person who got hurt might want to sue the doctor. This can be very scary for doctors because they can lose a lot of money or even their job.

To protect themselves, doctors might do extra tests or procedures that aren't really necessary. For example, if you went to the doctor and they thought you had a cold, they might order an x-ray or blood test even though you don't really need it. This is called defensive medicine because the doctor is trying to cover all their bases just in case they get sued.

The problem with defensive medicine is that it can be expensive and it can also waste a lot of time for patients. Sometimes, doctors do extra tests and procedures that aren't really necessary, and this can make it harder and more expensive for patients to get the care they need. It can also expose patients to unnecessary risks from tests or procedures.

In summary, defensive medicine is when doctors do extra tests or procedures to protect themselves from getting sued. While it's understandable why doctors want to protect themselves, it can be expensive and waste time for patients. Experts are still figuring out how to strike a balance between protecting doctors and providing the best possible care for patients.