A bill that would let Wisconsin physicians and other healthcare providers express sympathy without fear of those statements being used against them in court is headed toward the state Senate, according to an Associated Press report via the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
The state Assembly passed the bill Tuesday, making the bill en route to the state Senate. The measure would make apologies, condolences or expressions of sympathy inadmissible as evidence in civil court or in administrative hearings regarding the provider's actions, according to the report.
This week, Wisconsin's state Senate approved a separate bill that would change a law requiring physicians to share certain information with patients, or their duty of informed consent. Under that bill, providers would need to share information about available alternative treatments "to a reasonable physician standard." The law previously required information meet "reasonable patient standard." It would also expand the duty of informed consent to apply to chiropractors, dentists, podiatrists and optometrists.
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