Comments on: Sorry doesn’t work all the time http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/sorry-doesnt-work-all-time.html medical blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:50:49 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/sorry-doesnt-work-all-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-85905 Anonymous Fri, 30 May 2008 22:42:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/05/sorry-doesnt-work-all-the-time.html#comment-85905 Kevin:<br/><br/>Your repeated implication that apologizing for hurting people is a manipulation technique to avoid lawsuits is cheesy and is embarrassing to your fellow physicians. Kevin:

Your repeated implication that apologizing for hurting people is a manipulation technique to avoid lawsuits is cheesy and is embarrassing to your fellow physicians.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/sorry-doesnt-work-all-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-85886 Anonymous Thu, 29 May 2008 22:38:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/05/sorry-doesnt-work-all-the-time.html#comment-85886 Speaking as one who saw lies planted in his records, met additional lies trying to get them acknowledged and corrected, never saw anything even close to an apology, and DID NOT SUE..."I'm sorry" would have gone a long way toward helping me get over feeling like the human race is crap. But if you want to be responsible for ripping the souls out of your fellow men, just keep on keeping your mouths shut and your risk management lawyers on speed dial. Speaking as one who saw lies planted in his records, met additional lies trying to get them acknowledged and corrected, never saw anything even close to an apology, and DID NOT SUE…”I’m sorry” would have gone a long way toward helping me get over feeling like the human race is crap. But if you want to be responsible for ripping the souls out of your fellow men, just keep on keeping your mouths shut and your risk management lawyers on speed dial.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/sorry-doesnt-work-all-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-85883 Anonymous Thu, 29 May 2008 17:48:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/05/sorry-doesnt-work-all-the-time.html#comment-85883 It is interesting case. On one hand, there was no malignant error, just a mix up in communication. Does having more money change the diagnosis in some way? Why is patient entitled to money? Did the patient not choose to go to the physician? <br/><br/>It seems that this is part of the danger of being cared for. It is interesting case. On one hand, there was no malignant error, just a mix up in communication. Does having more money change the diagnosis in some way? Why is patient entitled to money? Did the patient not choose to go to the physician?

It seems that this is part of the danger of being cared for.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/sorry-doesnt-work-all-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-85882 Anonymous Thu, 29 May 2008 17:18:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/05/sorry-doesnt-work-all-the-time.html#comment-85882 I don't think anyone has ever claimed that sorry works *all the time.*<br/><br/>On balance, however, patients and families are far more likely to be forgiving when you are honest and regretful. And being honest and regretful helps heal some of the damage - for you as well as for the patient.<br/><br/>Of course it sucks when you apologize and still get sued. But since when have apologies become little more than a risk management strategy? Whatever happened to doing the right thing? And since when did patients and families owe it to you to forgive and forget just because you said the magic words? I don’t think anyone has ever claimed that sorry works *all the time.*

On balance, however, patients and families are far more likely to be forgiving when you are honest and regretful. And being honest and regretful helps heal some of the damage – for you as well as for the patient.

Of course it sucks when you apologize and still get sued. But since when have apologies become little more than a risk management strategy? Whatever happened to doing the right thing? And since when did patients and families owe it to you to forgive and forget just because you said the magic words?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/05/sorry-doesnt-work-all-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-85880 Anonymous Thu, 29 May 2008 17:10:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/05/sorry-doesnt-work-all-the-time.html#comment-85880 I think the headline should read "Honesty doesn't work all the time" <br/><br/>Presumably, a possible medical error is OK not to tell patients. Kevinmd apparently feels its OK to lie (or withhold info) from patients--and, if truth comes in the form of an apology, why it's a crime to sue.<br/><br/>What self-absorption! Shakespeare was wrong--first thing, kill the doctors! I think the headline should read “Honesty doesn’t work all the time”

Presumably, a possible medical error is OK not to tell patients. Kevinmd apparently feels its OK to lie (or withhold info) from patients–and, if truth comes in the form of an apology, why it’s a crime to sue.

What self-absorption! Shakespeare was wrong–first thing, kill the doctors!

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