Medical Malpractice Blog

New Law that Protects Doctors

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently passed a new bill that protects doctors if they express any kind of sympathy to their patient or patient's family. The first section of Senate Bill 0053 says:

A statement, writing, or action that expresses sympathy, compassion, commiseration, or a general sense of benevolence relating to the pain, suffering, or death of an individual and that is made to that individual or to the individual's family is inadmissible as evidence of an admission of liability in an action for medical malpractice.

What this section is saying is if a doctor, either verbally or in writing, says that they are sorry for any pain, injuries or death caused to the patient, that statement cannot be used against them in a medical malpractice case.

This new law does not protect doctors who admit fault after they express their sympathy. Section two of the bill says:

This section does not apply to a statement of fault, negligence, or culpable conduct that is part of or made in addition to a statement, writing, or action described in subsection (1).

If your or a loved one are suffering injuries that were caused by a negligent doctor, call the Michigan Medical Malpractice Attorneys of The Thurswell Law Firm immediately. There are no attorney fees unless we collect money for you. Call us toll-free 1.866.354.5544 today.