Defensive medicine tied to physician perceptions, not damage caps

"It’s an idea that makes intuitive sense," Dr. Carrier said. "It’s just that the data set to test it didn’t exist until now."

But there is still a lot that the data set can’t explain. "There are many reasons why someone might order a test or not order a test," she added.

The National Institute for Health Care Reform funded the study. The authors had no conflicts to disclose.

mschneider@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @MaryEllenNY