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defensive medicine

noun

Definition of defensive medicine

: the practice of ordering medical tests, procedures, or consultations of doubtful clinical value in order to protect the prescribing physician from malpractice suits

First Known Use of defensive medicine

1969

in the meaning defined above

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Medical Dictionary

defensive medicine

noun

medical Definition of defensive medicine

: 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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