In Pennsylvania, New Legislation Allows Doctors to Apologize
A decade after a back-and-forth legislative battle that saw both doctors and lawyers visiting the state capitol by the hundreds – perhaps thousands – to argue for or against tort reforms that led to state law modifications in 2003, the two professions recently changed lobbying tactics by mutually agreeing on a new reform that both sides say will help.
As a result, Senate Bill 379 passed through the Pennsylvania House and Senate, and was signed by Governor Tom Corbett on Wednesday.
SB 379, also known as the Benevolent Gesture Medical Professional Liability Act, allows health care providers to make benevolent gestures prior to the start of medical malpractice lawsuits, mediations, arbitrations or administrative actions and not have those statements or gestures of contrition used against them as long as such actions are not statements of negligence or fault.
Ten years ago, debate was often heated between the two groups when it came to issues involving professional liability reform, but this time, doctors and lawyers agree that saying “I’m sorry” makes sense in specific situations.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2013/10/25/309293.htm
= new reply since forum marked as read
