defensive medicine

noun

The practice of recommending a diagnostic test or medical treatment that is not necessarily the best option for the patient, but mainly serves to protect the physician against a potential malpractice lawsuit from the patient.

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Meanings

noundefensive medicine (uncountable)
  1. uncountablemedicineThe practice of recommending a diagnostic test or medical treatment that is not necessarily the best option for the patient, but mainly serves to protect the physician against a potential malpractice lawsuit from the patient.
Cite this entry
APA

defensive medicine. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defensive%20medicine

MLA

“defensive medicine.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defensive%20medicine. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “defensive medicine,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defensive%20medicine.

Source: defensive medicine on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.