News in brief - April 3, 2006

Doctors want the option to apologize to patients, study shows - Medical residents to get CME credit - 57% of Californians support an assisted-suicide bill - Two renowned scientists get postage stamps - California Medical Assn. celebrates 150 years

Doctors want the option to apologize to patients, study shows

Physicians want to say "I'm sorry," according to a survey of more than 1,000 physician members of the American College of Physician Executives.

The "Patient Trust and Safety Survey," released in March, found that 81% of doctors said health care organizations should encourage apologies for medical errors; 55% of doctors said their organizations encourage making apologies to reduce lawsuits.

On the flip side, interviews with 1,000 patients showed 57% said they would be less likely to sue if the doctor or hospital that made the medical mistake issued an apology, while 25% said they would be more likely to sue.

Bill Steiger, editor of the ACPE's Physician Executive Journal, said the issue was a "hot topic" among doctors. "They really want to say 'I'm sorry' but are being told by lawyers and other legal counsel not to," because doctors' statements could be used against them as an admission of guilt, he said.

The ACPE conducted the survey to investigate both sides of the apology issue, Steiger said, but the organization has not taken a position.

Medical residents to get CME credit

Medical residents can get continuing medical education credits for their time in residency. The American Medical Association will give 20 Physician's Recognition Award Category 1 CME credits for each year of residency. For example, three years of residency would merit 60 credits.

The change is intended to help residents in states with mandatory CME requirements for medical licensure.

The service is free to AMA resident and fellow members and $40 for nonmembers. AMA membership for residents and fellows is $45.

A copy of the new guidelines are available on the AMA's Web site. (www.ama-assn.org/go/prabooklet).

57% of Californians support an assisted-suicide bill

A February Field Poll of 500 Californians found 57% support a bill pending in the state Legislature that, if passed, would closely mimic Oregon's controversial Death With Dignity Act; 34% of respondents said they opposed the bill, which would allow terminally ill patients to get prescriptions for life-ending drug doses from physicians.

The Field Poll, operated by the independent, nonpartisan Field Research Corp., has asked Californians about physician-assisted suicide since 1979. Majority support for the option has been unwavering. In 1979, 64% of Californians polled supported the option for terminally ill patients, with that figure jumping to 75% in 1999 before settling at 70% in this year's poll.

Pollsters speculated that support for legislation might be smaller than support for the concept of physician-assisted suicide because of respondents' fear a specific bill might not have sufficient safeguards to prevent euthanasia.

An Oregon-like bill was proposed in California 2005 but held up partly because of concerns the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Gonzales v. Oregon would invalidate it. Now that the nation's top court has upheld the Oregon law, supporters are more optimistic their bill will make progress in the Democrat-controlled Assembly. Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on the matter.

Two renowned scientists get postage stamps

For their work in fighting polio and other infectious diseases, Drs. Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin have been honored with postage stamps as part of the U.S. Postal Service's Distinguished Americans series. Dr. Salk is on a 63-cent stamp and Dr. Sabin is on an 87-cent stamp.

In 1955, Dr. Salk developed a killed-virus polio vaccine administered by injection. Five years later, Dr. Sabin developed a live-virus vaccine taken orally. Both vaccines have been credited with wiping out polio in the United States and much of the world.

Dr. Sabin died in 1993. Dr. Salk died in 1995.

California Medical Assn. celebrates 150 years

The California Medical Assn., founded by 100 physicians in 1856, is celebrating its 150th anniversary.

Delegates at the first CMA meeting were concerned about "the state's growing health problems and what to do about 'that everlasting parasite of medicine, quackery.' "

Today, the CMA has 35,000 members, and its official slogan is "Physicians dedicated to the health of Californians."