Interesting article here: “Apology a tool to avoid malpractice suits: Doctors shown financial benefits.” Excerpt:
It is a lesson children learn even before their ABCs — say you are sorry when you hurt someone. But it is now being taught in the grown-up world of medicine as a surprisingly powerful way to soothe patients and head off malpractice lawsuits. . .The hospitals in the University of Michigan Health System have been encouraging doctors since 2002 to apologize for mistakes. The system’s annual attorney fees have since dropped from $3 million to $1 million, and malpractice lawsuits and notices of intent to sue have fallen from 262 filed in 2001 to about 130 per year, said Rick Boothman, a former trial attorney who launched the practice there.
See also this previous post here from David Giacalone who discusses the relevance of the practice for lawyers.