Apology and Medical Mistake: Opportunity or Foil?

An innovative examination of the true nature of apology and its ameliorative properties, this article discusses the difficult situations arising in the wake of medical error. An interesting blend of psychology, sociology, and jurisprudence, the author responds to one physician's account of his tragic error, and offers evidence suggesting that the incidence of medical malpractice litigation may be diminished by physicians and hospitals taking responsibility and apologizing for their mistakes.