How Medical Apology Programs Harm Patients

Abstract:     
When an attorney suspects that he has committed legal malpractice, he must disclose it to the client and recommend that the client seek outside counsel to get objective legal advice on how to proceed. By contrast, when a doctor suspects that he has committed medical malpractice, at many facilities he is expected to employ a set of protocols that discourage the injured patient from considering the need for compensation. Yet, while an attorney could be disbarred for this sort of behavior, medical apology programs widely receive praise.

This Article argues that it is time to reconsider medical apology programs and the methods by which they operate. To do so, the Article explains the history of medical apology programs, how they work and how their design subverts the goals of fully compensating patients under the principles of tort law. The Article then suggests straightforward, effective cures for the misuse of medical apology programs.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 37

Accepted Paper Series