News: Diagnostic errors may contribute to malpractice suits

It may seem logical, but clinical judgement—or mistakes thereof—represents a serious concern in relation to malpractice suits according to a CRICO Strategies study, MedPage Today reported. Diagnosis-related malpractice cases cost nearly $2 billion, in commercial liability payouts.

While physicians role of clinical evaluation and treatment is inherently risky the data seems to show that cognitive biases as well as confirmation biases may contribute physicians incorrectly evaluating test results, not ordering warranted test results, or not identifying related conditions contributing to the overall health of the patient.

CDI professionals, in both the inpatient and outpatient settings, can help to identify clinical indications within the medical record that point to additional diagnoses and bring those forward to physicians via queries.

Editor’s note: The MedPage Today story can be found here.