Quality & Patient Safety

Some doctors apologize to patients when a medical error occurs

Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 21, 2008

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Some hospitals are trying a new tactic when a medical error occurs: Ask physicians and staff members involved to apologize to the patient, reports The New York Times. This practice, which has widely been shunned until recently, is becoming more common in an effort to examine how an error occurs. It also creates for a less-hostile patient, says the article.

In addition, admitting error has been frowned upon for fear of litigation. However, many of the hospitals trying this new technique are finding that their legal fees are diminishing. Some are finding that situations in which the physician has apologized to the harmed patient, patients are less likely to file suit, and more likely to settle out of court at a price that are affordable to the hospital.

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