Lately, doctors are seeing a lot of information advising them to admit their errors and apologize if they've made a medical error.
However, you need to be wary! There are many situations -- if not most -- in which saying that you're sorry is the worst thing that you can admit.
In one case that I'm currently defending, a psychiatrist is battling for his career and his livelihood because he chose to say "I'm sorry." However, for this "admission," the evidence against him would have been slim to none, and no one would have even considered bringing a case against him.
Instead, the physician has not only been sued, but there are criminal and license revocation actions pending as well. The case involves a patient who is addicted to oxycodone and acetaminophen, with diagnosed borderline personality traits, and who accused the doctor of touching her breast for 1 second.
The patient had also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and during the doctor's palpation of her tender points, she flinched and arched her back. This may have caused the 1-second touching, but the doctor is unsure even of this.
She called him on the phone, accusing him of wrongdoing. Rather than argue with her, he repeatedly told her that he was sorry, in an effort to placate her, calm her down, and get her to return to the office for continued treatment. (He was treating her with buprenorphine [Suboxone®] for her drug addiction).
The telephone conversation, unbeknownst to the doctor, had been taped and monitored by the police, and the apology was used as an admission against him. If not for the apology, this case never would have gotten anywhere. Instead, the doctor is now fighting for his professional life, and he has lost his hospital privileges and managed care contracts, pending resolution of the litigation. This has also caused him near financial ruin.
adaptation from the link above.what's your opinion??
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