<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Based on interviews, this article explores how obstetrician-gynaecologists in Switzerland deal with and respond to the risk of malpractice claims. It describes the factors associated with the interviewees’ perceived increasing risk of litigation, as well as three attitudes towards the use of consent forms as a means of managing such a risk. This article suggests that the perceived risk of claims is closely linked to the physicians’ perception of how external regulation shapes their professional autonomy.</p></abstract>

Based on interviews, this article explores how obstetrician-gynaecologists in Switzerland deal with and respond to the risk of malpractice claims. It describes the factors associated with the interviewees’ perceived increasing risk of litigation, as well as three attitudes towards the use of consent forms as a means of managing such a risk. This article suggests that the perceived risk of claims is closely linked to the physicians’ perception of how external regulation shapes their professional autonomy.

Risk of Malpractice Claims and Changes in Professional Autonomy: A Qualitative Study of Obstetrician-Gynaecologists in Switzerland

Haute Ecole de Santé Vaud (HESAV), Haute Ecole Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale (HES-SO), CH-1011 Lausanne,

Swiss Journal of Sociology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Based on interviews, this article explores how obstetrician-gynaecologists in Switzerland deal with and respond to the risk of malpractice claims. It describes...

Risk of Malpractice Claims and Changes in Professional Autonomy: A Qualitative Study of Obstetrician-Gynaecologists in Switzerland

Published Online: Feb 28, 2017

Page range: 163 - 182

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjs-2017-0008

Keywords
malpractice claim, defensive medicine, professional autonomy, obstetriciangynaecologist, Switzerland

© 2017

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Risk of Malpractice Claims and Changes in Professional Autonomy: A Qualitative Study of Obstetrician-Gynaecologists in Switzerland

Published Online: Feb 28, 2017

Page range: 163 - 182

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjs-2017-0008

Keywordsmalpractice claim, defensive medicine, professional autonomy, obstetriciangynaecologist, Switzerland

© 2017

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
malpractice claim, defensive medicine, professional autonomy, obstetriciangynaecologist, Switzerland