Stock attorney response.
My last case today was a 92 y.o. brain CT ordered by the ER for "mental status change". It was the patient's 9th brain CT in the last 12 months (not to mention 2 brain MRI) all ordered for "mental status change", and all showing nothing but a 92 y.o. brain.
These studies are ordered not because the ER thinks they're really going to find something treatable, but to keep some long-lost nephew who hasn't seen gramps in 30 year from coming out of the woodwork and suing the doc for everything he's worth; if by some chance something is missed. All defensive medicine, all the time. And the illegals will receive the same outrageous over-utilization for the exact same reason.
And its not just malpractice litigation. It's also the cost of equipment liability coverage that makes little stents the size of a caterpillar cost thousands of dollars. If one fails, look out. Better get more liability insurance so you can remain in business, and more classes on "Risk Management". For God's sake "Risk Management" (a.k.a. figuring out how not to get sued) is it's own industry costing who knows how many billions, and taking doctor and nurse time away from actually caring for patients.
The attorney has been out of his office for the last five hours.