European Journal of Internal Medicine
Volume 18, Issue 1 , Pages 35-38 , January 2007

Unconscious defensive medicine: The case of erythrocyte sedimentation rate

  • Elad Asher

      Affiliations

    • Department of Health Systems Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel
    • Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine E, Tel-Aviv, 64239 Israel
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Soroka University Medical Center, PO Box 151, Beer-Sheva 84101 Israel. Tel: +972 8 640 3405.
    • ,
  • Yoav Parag

      Affiliations

    • Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine E, Tel-Aviv, 64239 Israel
    • ,
  • Lior Zeller

      Affiliations

    • Soroka University Medical Center, Internal Medicine D, PO Box 151, Beer-Sheva, 84101 Israel
    • ,
  • Ronit Yerushalmi

      Affiliations

    • Soroka University Medical Center, Hematology Department, PO Box 151, Beer-Sheva, 84101 Israel
    • ,
  • Haim Reuveni

      Affiliations

    • Department of Health Systems Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel
    • Soroka University Medical Center, Pediatrics Division, PO Box 151, Beer-Sheva, 84101 Israel

Received 20 November 2005 ,Revised 26 May 2006 ,Accepted 11 July 2006.

References 

  1. Brigden M. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Still a helpful test when used judiciously. Postgrad Med 1998;103(5):257–262, 272–74.
  2. Zlonis M. The mystique of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. A reappraisal of one of the oldest laboratory tests still in use. Clin Lab Med. 1993;13(4):787–800
  3. Johansson JE, Sigurdsson T, Holmberg L, Bergstrom R. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate as a tumor marker in human prostatic cancer. An analysis of prognostic factors in 300 population-based consecutive cases. Cancer. 1992;70(6):1556–1563
  4. Gillum RF, Mussolino ME, Makuc DM. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and coronary heart disease: the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study. J Clin Epidemiol. 1995;48(3):353–361
  5. Chamorro A, Vila N, Ascaso C, Saiz A, Montalvo J, Alonso P, et al. Early prediction of stroke severity. Role of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Stroke. 1995;26(4):573–576
  6. Talkers R. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate/zeta sedimentation rate. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 1986;4(1):87–93
  7. Saadeh C. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate: old and new clinical applications. South Med J. 1998;91(3):220–225
  8. Recommendation for measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate of human blood. International Committee for Standardization in Haematology. Am J Clin Pathol. 1977;68:505–507
  9. US Congress . Office of Technology Assessment. Defensive medicine and medical malpractice. Publication OTA-H-602. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office; 1994;
  10. Kessler D, McClellan M. Do doctors practice defensive medicine?. Q J Econ. 1996;111:353–390
  11. Anderson RE. Billions for defense: the pervasive nature of defensive medicine. Arch Intern Med. 1999;159(20):2399–2402
  12. Studdert DM, Mello MM, Sage WM, DesRoches CM, Peugh J, Zapert K, et al. Defensive medicine among high-risk specialist physicians in a volatile malpractice environment. JAMA. 2005;293(21):2609–2617
  13. Summerton N. Positive and negative factors in defensive medicine: a questionnaire study of general practitioners. BMJ. 1995;310(6971):27–29

PII: S0953-6205(06)00248-2

doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2006.07.021

European Journal of Internal Medicine
Volume 18, Issue 1 , Pages 35-38 , January 2007

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