Attorneys are accustomed to this time frame; physicians are not. The lingering effects on doctors include stress, loss of job satisfaction, family strife, depression, substance abuse, and so on.
Because a lawsuit is a major stressful life event, a physician may be only too happy to be done with one. If there were absolutely no consequences to settling, that would be a smart move. But there are consequences, and living with them can also cause stress. The best way to minimize stress on either side of the equation is to think long and hard before settling any case.
