In 2013, the laws surrounding medical malpractice changed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. At that time, a statute, c.231 sec. 60L, was put into place to promote a clearer exchange of a factual information when a patient is intending to pursue a malpractice action against a health care provider. It required most patients or their attorneys to send a letter (called at Notice of Intent) to those health care providers whom they wished to pursue allegations of medical harm. This law also created a 182-day period for attorneys representing doctors and health care providers to investigate the allegations in the letter before assembling a response. This law was not intended as a substitute for lawsuits or as a mechanism for resolving all claims outside of court. However, it was created to offer a preliminary notice obligation, so that both sides in a medical malpractice case have an early opportunity to more fully evaluate issues of medicine and legal liability. It is not uncommon for a lawsuit to follow the receipt of a Notice of Intent letter after the 182-day waiting period had concluded.