#435- Fighting Back: How Doctors Can Take Control in a Malpractice Battle with Dr. Gita Pensa

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In this episode, Dr. Gita Pensa advocates for physicians navigating the storm of malpractice lawsuits. She opens up about the emotional and psychological toll of physicians being sued. She shares her own journey through litigation and how it inspired her to help others facing similar struggles. 

Dr. Pensa helps refine doctors' mindset during litigation, providing insightful guidelines to help defend themselves with confidence and clarity during depositions and trials. 

She recommends two goals for everyone in deposition; one is to accept the situation. Letting go of the emotions rather than argue over reality. At best grief, but don’t suffer guilt. Secondly, that physicians be good defendants for themselves. She stresses that the physician’s overall objective is to get the jury into their thought process, since they are not medical practitioners themselves.

She believes that by supporting each other and advocating for systemic change, physicians can not only survive litigation but grow stronger through it. She also encourages doctors to push back against the unrealistic expectation of perfection in medicine, reminding them that they’re humans.

BIO

Dr. Gita S. Pensa, M.D. is a speaker, educator, coach, and creator of Doctors and Litigation: The L Word. An associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Clinician Educator, and Associate Director of the Emergency Digital Health Innovation program at Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She is the editor/host of the Academic Emergency Medicine podcast series, AEM Early Access. 

She podcasts and speaks nationally on litigation and litigation stress, and most recently won the 2019 Rhode Island ACEP chapter's Special Service Recognition Award for 'Courageous Public Advocacy of Rhode Island Emergency Medicine Colleagues.'

She is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading experts on malpractice litigation, stress, and physician litigation support. She gives practical and psychological preparation necessary for malpractice litigation defendants. She's been featured in forums such as Time Magazine, South by Southwest, NPR, and a new PBS documentary, A World of Hurt, How Medical Malpractice Fails Everyone. She helps good doctors manage the stressors of adverse events, litigation, and burnout. 

Website: doctorsandlitigation.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gita-pensa-m-d-693557189

Twitter (X): https://x.com/GitaPensaMD

Doctors and Litigation: The L Word

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Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.