Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday signed "I'm sorry" legislation that will give Michigan healthcare providers greater protection to apologize for medical errors, without an "I'm sorry" comment being used against them in a lawsuit. Michigan joins 35 other states and the District of Columbia with laws that generally prohibit statements or writings expressing sympathy, compassion or commiseration about the pain, suffering or death of a patient to a patient or family from being used as an admission of liability in medical malpractice suits. The legislation was introduced by state Sen. Jim Marleau, R-Lake Orion, and was supported by groups such as the Michigan State Medical Society, Michigan Health & Hospital Association and the Michigan Association of Justice, a professional group of medical malpractice attorneys.
