GOVERNMENTNews in brief - May 22/29, 2006Iowa Legislature passes "I'm sorry" bill Iowa Legislature passes "I'm sorry" billThe Iowa Senate in April unanimously passed a bill that would allow physicians and other health care professionals to apologize to patients without the statements being used against them in court. The measure cleared the House in March. Doctors anticipate Gov. Tom Vilsack will sign the legislation. The bill would help reduce medical liability lawsuits against physicians by encouraging better communication with patients, said Stephen Richards, DO, immediate past president of the Iowa Medical Society, which supported the measure. "With this we can say, 'Here's what we think occurred and now this is what we are going to do to fix it,' " Dr. Richards said. "We get trained by our carriers not to show compassion because it's viewed as an admission of guilt." If the legislation is enacted, Iowa would become one of about 21 states with a safe apology statute, according to data from the American Medical Association. Copyright 2006 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. |
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