The AP reports that “at the University of Michigan Health System…lawyers and doctors say admitting mistakes up front and offering compensation before being sued have brought about remarkable savings in money, time and feelings.” In fact, “the willingness to admit mistakes goes well beyond decency and has proven a shrewd business strategy, according to a 2009 article in the Journal of Health & Life Sciences Law.” Researchers at University of Michigan found that “malpractice claims against his health system fell from 121 in 2001 to 61 in 2006, while the backlog of open claims went from 262 in 2001 to 106 in 2006 and 83 in 2007.” Data also indicated that “between 2001 and 2007, the average time to process a claim fell from about 20 months to about eight months, costs per claim were halved and insurance reserves dropped by two-thirds.” Notably, “equally important,” was that “health system doctors and officials offer to meet with patients and their families…to explain that treatment was appropriate and sometimes to admit a mistake.”
From the American Association for Justice news release.
