Laws may allow physicians to apologize
Accreditation Connection, April 16, 2007
Nine states are considering passing bills that would allow physicians to apologize to patients after making a mistake without the fear of their words being used against them in court, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Already, 27 other states have similar laws in place, as part of a movement that encourages physicians to admit mistakes rather than ignore them.
Many hospitals believe that apologies boost patient satisfaction and decrease lawsuits, but without protection from the law, apologies are risky, reports the AP.
The laws vary by state, some allowing only verbal apologies and some being more lenient. ProMutual Group, an insurer of more than 18,000 healthcare professionals, advises physicians that saying sorry is okay, but they should avoid the words "error," "mistake," "fault," or "negligence."
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