Words That Heal
Authors: Douglas N. Frenkel, Carol B. Liebman
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2004)

Editorials16 March 2004Words That HealDouglas N. Frenkel, JD and Carol B. Liebman, JDDouglas N. Frenkel, JDFrom University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, PA 19104, and Columbia Law School, New York, NY 10027.Search for more papers by this author and Carol B. Liebman, JDFrom University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, PA 19104, and Columbia Law School, New York, NY 10027.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-140-6-200403160-00016 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail An apology is a complicated thing. Coming clean is hard; if done poorly, it can make things worse. Just ask Bill Clinton or Pete Rose. But when done right, talking can be powerfully productive, as suggested in the article by Mazor and colleagues in this issue (1).As former litigators and now mediators and clinical law teachers, we have spent our careers learning how conflicts arise and what is really at stake when people sue. We have also learned how words can be used to change perceptions and, ultimately, to find constructive and less costly ways to resolve conflicts. Our ...References1. Mazor KM, Simon SR, Yood RA, Martinson BC, Gunter MJ, Reed GW, et al . Health plan members' views about disclosure of medical errors. Ann Intern Med. 2004;140:409-18. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Levinson W, Roter DL, Mullooly JP, Dull VT, Frankel RM. Physician-patient communication. The relationship with malpractice claims among primary care physicians and surgeons. JAMA. 1997;277:553-9. [PMID: 9032162] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act. 13 Pa C S §308 (2002). Google Scholar4. Nev Rev Stat §439.835 (2003). Google Scholar5. Fla Stat §395.1051 (2003). Google Scholar6. Robbennolt JK. Apologies and legal settlement: an empirical examination. The Michigan Law Review. [In press]. Google Scholar7. Cohen JR. Apology and organizations: exploring an example from medical practice. Fordham Urban Law Journal. 2000;27:1447-82. Google Scholar8. Tire victim: apology seemed sincere. Accessed at www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/12/20/national/main258587.shtml on 25 January 2004. Google Scholar9. Mass Gen Laws ch 233, §23D. Google Scholar10. V.T.C.A Civ Prac & Rem Code §18.061. Google Scholar11. Fla Stat §90.4026. Google Scholar12. Cohen JR. Legislating apology: the pros and cons. University of Cincinnati Law Review. 2002;70:819-72. Google Scholar13. Allred KG. Anger and retaliation in conflict: the role of attribution.. In: Deutsch M, Coleman PT, eds. The Handbook of Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass; 2000:236-55. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, PA 19104, and Columbia Law School, New York, NY 10027.Disclosures: None disclosed.Corresponding Author: Douglas N. Frenkel, JD, University of Pennsylvania Law School, 3400 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; e-mail, [email protected]upenn.edu.Current Author Addresses: Professor Douglas Frenkel, Practice Professor of Law and Clinical Director, University of Pennsylvania Law School, 3400 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.Professor Carol Liebman, Clinical Professor, Columbia Law School, 435 West 116th Street, New York, NY 10027; e-mail, [email protected]columbia.edu. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoHealth Plan Members' Views about Disclosure of Medical Errors Kathleen M. Mazor , Steven R. Simon , Robert A. Yood , Brian C. Martinson , Margaret J. Gunter , George W. Reed , and Jerry H. Gurwitz Future Research on Disclosure of Medical Errors Jonathan R. Cohen Metrics Cited byBarriers to reporting near misses and adverse events among professionals performing laparoscopic surgeries: a mixed methodology approachApologies and Medical ErrorMedical errors – a hospital in Nepal searches for answersDisclosure of medical error: Is it worth the risk?Chapter 20. Disclosing Medication Errors to Patients and FamiliesEthical forces that shape a career in surgeryShould Surgical Errors Always Be Disclosed to the Patient?Future Research on Disclosure of Medical ErrorsJonathan R. Cohen, JD, PhD 16 March 2004Volume 140, Issue 6Page: 482-483KeywordsAdverse eventsDisclosureEmotionsPatientsPenicillinPerceptionQuestionnairesRisk managementSafetySerious adverse events ePublished: 16 March 2004 Issue Published: 16 March 2004 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2004 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...