What term describes a situation where patients request unnecessary medical services?

The term that describes a situation where patients request unnecessary medical services is provider-induced demand. This concept arises when healthcare providers influence patients' decisions to seek more services than necessary, often taking advantage of patients' trust in their expertise.

Provider-induced demand can occur because patients may not have the full knowledge needed to assess their medical needs properly, which allows providers to recommend additional tests, treatments, or procedures that may not be necessary for the patient's condition. This phenomenon can lead to increased healthcare costs without corresponding improvements in health outcomes, as patients may end up undergoing procedures or receiving treatments that do not benefit them.

In contrast, moral hazard refers to a situation where individuals take on more risk because they do not bear the full consequences of that risk, typically due to insurance coverage. Underwriting is the process of evaluating risk and determining the appropriate premium for insurance coverage, and cost sharing involves patients paying a portion of their healthcare costs, which does not directly relate to the request for unnecessary services. These distinctions clarify why provider-induced demand is the correct answer to describe patients seeking unnecessary medical services.