title: Disclosing medical errors in Missouri: how to say "I'm sorry".
abstract: Most physicians and patients agree that errors should be disclosed to patients and their families. A major barrier to disclosure is fear of litigation on the part of the physician. Some states, now including Missouri, have adopted so-called "apology laws", which are designed to facilitate disclosure by making certain statements of apology inadmissible as evidence in a court case. Some institutions have implemented "full-disclosure" programs with reportedly promising results. This article will review apology law in Missouri, and will discuss its implications for medical practice and for the disclosure of errors.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri-Kansas City, USA.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pollock
authors.forename: Marilyn M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pesto
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sirridge
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Van Way
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D030881:Disclosure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007591:Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016365:Liability, Legal; D019300:Medical Errors; D008923:Missouri; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014481:United States