MGMA Insights: Compliance, Consent, and the Psychology of Defiance
Download MP3In this MGMA Insights podcast episode, Daniel Williams sits down with Dr. Sunita Sah, a tenured professor at Cornell University and author of Defy. Together, they explore the subtle but powerful psychology behind compliance and informed consent. Drawing from her experiences as a physician and organizational psychologist, Dr. Sah discusses why patients — and even medical professionals — often follow advice they disagree with, and how we can build greater confidence, clarity, and autonomy in healthcare decision-making.
[00:04:00] The Scan She Didn’t Want
[00:04:00] The Scan She Didn’t Want
- Dr. Sah tells a personal ER story that sparked her research into why we comply, even when we know we shouldn't.
[00:09:00] The Five Elements of True Consent
- A breakdown of capacity, knowledge, understanding, freedom to say no, and personal authorization — and how this differs from compliance.
[00:14:00] Why It’s Hard to Speak Up
- “Insinuation anxiety” is the discomfort we feel when we risk questioning those in power — even when the stakes are high.
[00:20:00] Leadership Lessons from Healthcare Classrooms
- Dr. Sah shares how physicians in her Cornell classes are rethinking how they lead and communicate through values-driven decision-making.
[00:24:00] False Defiance vs. Real Defiance
- Not all resistance is rooted in values. Dr. Sah explains how to recognize the difference between performative opposition and meaningful dissent.
Resources:
- Dr. Sunita Sah’s Website
- Defy by Dr. Sunita Sah - Buy on Amazon or Listen on Audible
- Join the MGMA Book Club — Defy is featured in an upcoming session
- More MGMA Insights Episodes
Additional Resources:
Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com if you would like to appear on an episode. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to advisor@mgma.com. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts.
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This episode is brought to you by NotifyMD — the patient access solution built for healthcare professionals. You work hard to care for your patients, and NotifyMD helps you do just that. Their communication experts handle calls, schedule appointments, provide nurse triage, and more — all available 24/7. NotifyMD integrates seamlessly with platforms like athenahealth and Epic and meets the industry’s highest security standards, so you can trust that patient information stays private and protected. Learn more at notifymd.com.
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