'Sorry' seems to be the hardest word
Side note: Sometimes it is easy to forget the power of an apology. This story details the tragic misdiagnosis that led to the premature death, at the age of 39, of Doug Wojcieszak’s brother. Doug’s brother had gone to the emergency room with chest pains and was diagnosed with ulcers. He returned several hours later when the symptoms had worsened. Unfortunately by that time it was too late. The surgeon who had tried to save Doug’s brother made the comment, ‘If those jerks at the hospital did their jobs, I could have saved him.” The family of the man filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital and the case was settled out of court. The hospital never admitted responsibility; the family never received closure. If the hospital had been more open and empathetic with the family they may have been able to avoid a costly medical malpractice insurance claim. We hear at MyMedicalMalpracticeInsurance.com were early adopters of the mentality that doctor-patient communication is critical to lowering the risk of a medical malpractice lawsuit. One of our Free Practice Tools we offer to every client is a copy of “Healing Words: The Power of Apology in Medicine”. This book was written by Dr. Michael Woods, who specializes in providing education for physicians on how to communicate with patients and their families after an unexpected outcome. This is just another way we help physicians lower their liability, which in turn saves them money on their medical malpractice insurance costs. Request your free, no obligation medical malpractice insurance quote now and start saving money.
by: JOHN STANCAVAGE
World Business Editor
TulsaWorld.com
Saying “I’m sorry” is one of the first things we are taught as children. But it also is something we tend to avoid as adults.
In the business world, offering a sincere apology for a mistake often can make the difference in retaining a key customer or relationship.
In the worst-case scenario, failing to say “I’m sorry” can send two parties into an expensive legal battle that months or years later likely still will leave at least one side without emotional closure.
“Sorry works,” says Doug Wojcieszak, a corporate consultant whose own family tragedy caused him to fully consider the power of the apology.
“It’s the one thing people who are wronged want to hear the most. But the biggest complaint usually is, ‘No one said they were sorry or cared.’?”
Wojcieszak lost a brother several years ago to what he says was questionable medical care. The brother, 39, went to an emergency room at 2 a.m. with chest, stomach and shoulder pains. He was diagnosed with an ulcer, given some oral medicine and sent home.
