Chicago Sun-Times: Maybe docs can just say 'I'm sorry'

[Tweed]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-sorry24.html

"State legislators are considering a surprisingly simple solution to the medical malpractice mess.

When doctors and hospitals screw up, they should just say "I'm sorry" and offer prompt compensation.

Patients treated this way, the theory goes, are less likely to sue for malpractice, and this in turn could help rein in skyrocketing malpractice insurance costs.

Bills pending in the Illinois House and Senate would establish a "Sorry Works" pilot program at two hospitals to be named later."

You have to read the whole article to get a feel for what is going on here. Other than that, this story leaves me a little baffled too.

[mopinko]

1. actually

this is actually how workers comp is run by a lot of companies. you get hurt on the job, your expenses are paid out of the box. coverage is assumed. the idea is to try to avoid leaving workers in a position where they have to sue to stay out of the hole.

i'm sure part of the compensation would be to not make people pay for the mistakes of doctors. that would go a long way.
it really is the bs that comes after that leads to a lot of lawsuits.
i had a situation where i would have sued if they had come after me to pay. i really just wanted to forget about it, and move on. my own doctor apologized profusely. it was the hospital that screwed up. they started to chase me for the remainder after the insurance. i said, sue me, make me hire a lawyer. they said- oh, ok. never mind.
if i had gone to court, they would have been toast. they were smart enough to just cut their losses.
maybe this is what they are aiming at. i think it makes a lot of sense.

[Radical Activist]

2. "My mistake just caused you to be blinded and I infected you with AIDS...

umm...sorry bout that." huh I don't know how well that one is going to work.