Defensive Practice is prioritizing avoidance of complaints over providing care. Those people who are most in need of help, such as people who may be emotionally labile or who have had difficulties with previous health care providers will have extra difficulty getting help, simply because any complaints will not be investigated by individuals familiar with psychological practice. That is like your driving being evaluated by someone who has never driven a car.

In addition, complaints can be made public even before they have been investigated to determine if there is any merit to a complaint. That means someone can make a false complaint and it could totally ruin the reputation of a health care provider, even if it is later found to be false.

No wonder, therefore, 59.6% of health care professionals in a recent ongoing survey (744 professionals so far) have indicated that they will be changing their work hours or changing the types of clients they see.