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The Illinois Governor and General Assembly have agreed to a final med-mal bill (Illinois Senate Bill 475), and the Sorry Works! pilot program is part of the bill! The bill will be passed this weekend and a signing ceremony is planned this coming Tuesday, May 31. To see the legislation, visit www.ilga.gov, search for Illinois Senate Bill 475 and click on House Amendment 1.
The bill also includes immunity for physician apologies, which can also be a good step. While we believe honesty is its own defense (and a best defense), if this provision helps physicians become more comfortable communicating with their patients, then it's a good thing.
SB 475 contains many other provisions, including comprehensive insurance reform, stricter physician discipline, and caps on non-economic damages ($500,000 for physicians and $1 million for hospitals). Indeed, SB 475 is a true compromise bill that all sides gained something and gave something in the process. Still, some members of the Sorry Works! Coalition will not be happy with the caps provision in SB 475. To these members we say this should cause us to re- double our efforts in promoting Sorry Works! as the solution to the medical malpractice crisis. Indeed, Sorry Works! reduces lawsuits and liability costs without limiting constitutional rights, thus making caps (and other tort reform ideas) unnecessary.
It's up to us if Sorry Works! is going to be seen as the med-mal solution or if it's going to be mixed in as part of a grab bag of med-mal fixes.
In conclusion, getting the first Sorry Works! pilot program passed in the United States is a huge accomplishment. We are happy and gratified. However, we have much work to do. Other states should pass pilot programs, but we also need to educate hospitals and doctors that they don't need to wait for legislators to pass pilot programs (or caps)....they can embrace Sorry Works! today and begin experiencing the benefits immediately. The pilot programs are simply a way to publicize the program and provide incentives for people to try Sorry Works. However, the benefits of Sorry Works! should be incentive enough. We need to educate lots of people, and you can do your part by forwarding this e-newsletter to five (5) of your colleagues. Thanks, and cheers!
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