For docs, hospitals, 'sorry' is a hard word to say

When a physician or hospital screws up, sometimes all a patient wants is an apology. But they often don't get one, because the apology could be construed as an admission of negligence—and could become fodder for a future malpractice lawsuit. The state Legislature has once again taken up bills that would make inadmissible in medical malpractice lawsuits any admissions of liability that doctors and other health care providers make to patients while apologizing or extending "benevolent" gestures of compassion.