2006 National Patient Safety Goal In Clinton-Obama Legislation

Clinton-Obama Patient Safety Legislation Featured in New England Journal of Medicine

Washington, DC – The May 25 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine features legislation introduced by Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama to increase patient safety and reduce medical errors and lower malpractice costs. The National Medical Error Disclosure and Compensation (MEDiC) Act will encourage physicians, hospitals and health systems to adopt an innovative model that provides liability protections for physicians who disclose medical errors to patients and offer to enter into negotiations for fair compensation.

“For too long, our health care system has discouraged the kind of communication needed to find and correct the conditions that lead to medical errors. Our bill puts patient safety first and creates an avenue for doctors and patients to find solutions outside of the courtroom,” said Senator Clinton.

In an attempt to reduce deaths and injuries due to medical errors, improve communication between doctors and their patients, ensure patient access to fair compensation for legitimate injuries, and reduce soaring medical liability costs, a number of hospital systems and private liability insurance companies around the country have adopted a policy of robust disclosure of medical errors with thorough analysis and intervention, acknowledgement or apology for such errors and early compensation for patient injury. Overall, these policies have resulted in greater patient trust and satisfaction, more patients being compensated for injuries, fewer numbers of malpractice suits being filed and significantly reduced administrative and legal defense costs for providers, insurers and hospitals where such policies are in place.

The National MEDiC program will build on these efforts underway at the local level by encouraging adoption of this model across the country and providing grant money and technical assistance for doctors, hospitals, and health systems to help them implement the program. The MEDiC program will be administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.