Apologies Gain Momentum

From a post 09/21/2005 on Medscape, which requires registration to use, but is otherwise free access to a whole constellation of information and services. Thanks, Farhad!

"A decade ago, physicians were told, implicitly or explicitly, during their professional training to avoid making apologies to patients for medical errors because it could lead to problems if they are sued. Today, some healthcare executives, insurers, and physicians are changing this mindset and fully embracing disclosure and apologies, not only because they believe it will reduce malpractice claims, but also because it's ethically the right thing to do.

"Led by Lucian Leape, MD, a group of physicians, patients, and executives from Harvard Medical School's teaching hospitals have drafted a sweeping disclosure policy that establishes detailed procedures for physicans to acknowledge medical errors and offer fair compensation for expenses related to medical injuries.

"In Colorado, the state's largest malpractice insurer, COPIC, has enrolled 1,800 physicians since 2000 in a disclosure progrm called the "3Rs" for "Recognize, Respond, and Resolve." Under the program, physicians immediately express remorse, apologize to patients, and describe in detail what went wrong in the wake of an error. The insurer compensates patients for expenses related to the injury, including lost work time. Patients cannot participate in the program if they have filed a lawsuit, but they do not waive their right to sue later. Since 2000, the insurer has seen a 50% decrease in malpractice claims and a 23% drop in the cost of settling claims for these 1,800 physicians.

"Illinois recently passed a law allowing six hospitals to pilot a "Sorry Works!" program in which full apologies for bad outcomes from medical errors are combined with up-front compensation. The state is so confident that the program will reduce malpractice claims that it will provide refunds to these facilities if they experience increases in payments."
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"Beautify your tongues, O people, with truthfulness, and adorn your souls with the ornament of honesty. Beware, O people, that ye deal not treacherously with any one. Be ye the trustees of God amongsth His creatures, and the emblems of His generosity amidst His people. They that follow their lusts and corrupt inclinations, have erred and dissipated their efforts. They, indeed, are of the lost...."

-- Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. 136, p. 297

"The first, the fundamental purpose underlying creation hath ever been, and will continue to be, none other than the appearance of trustworthiness and godliness, of sincerity and goodwill amongst mankind, for these qualities are the cause of peace, security and tranquillity. Blessed are those who possess such virtues."

-- Bahá'í Writings: Compilation of Compilations - Trustworthiness, p. 328