title: When it's okay to say you're sorry.
abstract: Traditionally, physicians have been warned not to express sympathy to a patient whose treatment has not been successful, lest such a statement could be construed as an admission of liability in a court of law. It is now realized that a patient whose physician expresses sympathy is less likely to bring suit than a patient who feels angry and alone in his or her disappointment. Fortunately, legislation is being passed in some states which disallows the admissibility of a physician's "benevolent gesture" in court.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Demorest
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D006801:Humans; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*