defensive medicine
noun
: the practice of ordering medical tests, procedures, or consultations of doubtful clinical value in order to protect the prescribing physician from malpractice suits
Examples of defensive medicine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Initiate tort reform, to help alleviate the practice of defensive medicine.
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Carolyn Barber, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2020
Carolyn Barber, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'defensive medicine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1969, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of defensive medicine was
in 1969
Dictionary Entries Near defensive medicine
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“Defensive medicine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defensive%20medicine. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
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Medical Definition
defensive medicine
noun
: the practice of ordering medical tests, procedures, or consultations of doubtful clinical value in order to protect the prescribing physician from malpractice suits
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