By Laura Weber and Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
LANSING, MI –
Governor Rick Snyder signed a law Tuesday that protects doctors from lawsuits if they express sympathy for the death of a patient. Snyder says health care providers are often prohibited from saying "I'm sorry" when a medical procedure fails because it can be considered an admission of guilt in court.
Snyder says the new law will allow doctors to be more supportive.
"And the opportunity for health care professionals to have a dialogue with families that have had some traumatic experiences. So it's great to have an opportunity to have that be done in a safe and thoughtful fashion so people can have good communication and good dialogue," he says.
Snyder says studies show that when a doctor is allowed to say "I'm sorry," people who are grieving are better able to heal.