A "benevolent gestures" bill introduced by Rep. Joseph McNamara (D-R.I.) would allow physicians and other healthcare providers to apologize to patients and families for undesirable outcomes without legal consequences.
Currently, healthcare providers' expressions of sympathy or condolences can be admitted as evidence against them if a patient were to file a malpractice lawsuit.
The proposed legislation says any expression of sympathy, condolence, compassion or a general sense of benevolence (including the word "sorry") relating to the pain, suffering or death of a patient in connection to medical care or treatment would be declared inadmissible as evidence in civil action against healthcare providers. The legislation would cover both statements and writings of a healthcare provider to a patient or to the patient's family.
Although many members of the healthcare community voiced their support of the bill, others also demonstrated their opposition, arguing such a law would provide unfair legal protection for physicians at patients' expense, according to a Brown Daily Herald report.
The legislation will be brought before the House Committee on Judiciary and the Senate Committee on Judiciary before a floor vote by the General Assembly.
Currently, healthcare providers' expressions of sympathy or condolences can be admitted as evidence against them if a patient were to file a malpractice lawsuit.
The proposed legislation says any expression of sympathy, condolence, compassion or a general sense of benevolence (including the word "sorry") relating to the pain, suffering or death of a patient in connection to medical care or treatment would be declared inadmissible as evidence in civil action against healthcare providers. The legislation would cover both statements and writings of a healthcare provider to a patient or to the patient's family.
Although many members of the healthcare community voiced their support of the bill, others also demonstrated their opposition, arguing such a law would provide unfair legal protection for physicians at patients' expense, according to a Brown Daily Herald report.
The legislation will be brought before the House Committee on Judiciary and the Senate Committee on Judiciary before a floor vote by the General Assembly.
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