Disclosure: Physicians in Malpractice Situations

PEI sponsored medical malpractice seminars, led by Chris Stern-Hyman, JD, to educate residents on alternative dispute resolutions, specifically the policy of post-adverse event disclosure, apology, and mediation. In conjunction with an early offer of fair compensation where justified, research has shown that this policy can reduce the expenses for all parties involved, and enable the hospital to identify and correct underlying systemic problems, while providing a much quicker financial resolution and avoiding the emotional difficulties for both patients and doctors caused by years of litigation. For example, the University of Michigan Health System noted that, in adopting a policy of disclosure and apology, its open medical malpractice claims dropped from 262 in 2001 to 83 in 2007 and reserves for claims were cut from $72 million to less than $20 million.[1] The government is getting behind this too; the Affordable Care Act has appropriated $50 million for a five-year period for states that can demonstrate productive alternatives to the litigation system. (PEI sponsored medical malpractice seminars, led by Chris Stern-Hyman, JD)