Docs learn to avert patient disputes

"Doctors have to meet higher patient expectations to minimise the risks of complaints and even lawsuits."

Docs learn to avert patient disputes
Weekend • October 20, 2007
Sheralyn Tay sheralyn@mediacorp.com.sg
Dogged by rising numbers of complaints and lawsuits and the escalating costs of healthcare indemnity premiums, doctors in many countries have been leaving the profession in droves.
While this trend has not taken hold in Singapore, the Government is keen to take steps to forestall this — especially as the number of claims reported to the Medical Protection Society (MPS), a leading indemnifier of health professionals here, is expected to rise here too.
MPS, a UK-based not-for-profit organisation, has been in Singapore for more than 30 years and covers 90 per cent of doctors here.
"It is increasingly more difficult for doctors to practise medicine today as compared to, perhaps, a decade ago," said Minister of State for Health Heng Chee How on Friday at the launch of MPS' Risk Consulting Service and Educational Services, which aim to teach doctors how better to prevent and resolve disputes.
"Doctors have to meet higher patient expectations to minimise the risks of complaints and even lawsuits."
As such, Mr Heng welcomed the entrance of MPS' training programmes which, among other things, teach better doctor-patient communication.
Dr Priya Singh, medical director of MPS, said: "Our experience is that where there is good doctor-patient communication, patients feel they have a good understanding of what went wrong.
"They continue to have trust in the doctor and are more likely to want to resolve things."
While the Subordinate Courts here handled only about 10 medical negligence cases a year between 2004 and 2006, the threat of lawsuits has driven up the costs of healthcare significantly.
Doctors find themselves having to pay higher liability insurance premiums over the years, and may conduct a battery of medical tests on patients to protect themselves against potential legal action.
For example, obstetricians pay $24,555 for annual MPS membership this year, up from $5,250 just six years ago.
According to Dr Ming Keng Teoh, International Medicolegal Advisor at MPS, there "may be a slight increase" in fees next year. Details are expected by November, he added.
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