Cosmetic Surgery Malpractice & Surgeon Apologies
I just finished reading an article at Cnn.com entitled “‘I’m sorry,’ hard for doctors to say“. It was an interesting article regarding medical malpractice with a focus on cosmetic surgery and the effect it has on patient-doctor relationships.
You’re considering having cosmetic surgery. It’s a difficult choice for you to make, but after speaking with some friends you decide to move forward with the procedure and choose a cosmetic surgeon that you feel comfortable with. He or She seems like a good person and they may even have strong referrals and great before & after photos to show you.
The day comes and you’re really nervous. You have your surgery and when you wake up and you take a look at your surgically revised self…..you are horribly disappointed. Something went wrong! And after you spent all of that money! At this point a little comfort and understanding could go a long way. But, as CNN reports, cosmetic surgeons are regularly advised by their insurance companies NOT to apologize to their clients when surgeries go bad as it could be used as an admission of guilt in a court of law in some states.
As my small example suggests, as a patient paying large sums of money for their surgeon’s expertise and time, this is hardly a reasonable way to be treated. But, since medical malpractice lawsuits can be worth millions of dollars for lawyers and victims, many surgeons are left with no choice but to keep their mouth shut.
CNN reports that lawmakers in Rhode Island and eight other states are considering bills that would allow doctors to apologize when things go wrong without having to fear that their words will be used against them in lawsuits. Roughly twenty seven other states have already passed similar laws to protect surgeons and doctors according to the American Medical Association.
We completey support these bills and hope they spread to the remaining states. While there may be downsides to such a bill there are many upsides.
What do you think? Are you for or against the bill?
