Interesting article here: "Apology a tool to avoid malpractice suits: Doctors shown financial benefits." Excerpt:
It is a lesson children learn even before their ABCs -- say you are sorry when you hurt someone. But it is now being taught in the grown-up world of medicine as a surprisingly powerful way to soothe patients and head off malpractice lawsuits. . .The hospitals in the University of Michigan Health System have been encouraging doctors since 2002 to apologize for mistakes. The system's annual attorney fees have since dropped from $3 million to $1 million, and malpractice lawsuits and notices of intent to sue have fallen from 262 filed in 2001 to about 130 per year, said Rick Boothman, a former trial attorney who launched the practice there.
See also this previous post here from David Giacalone who discusses the relevance of the practice for lawyers.
Posted by B. Janell Grenier at November 12, 2004 01:30 PM