Everyone should read the article written by JOAN SAVITSKY, M.D. at the NY Times. It was about a lawsuit that she never saw coming and that was riddled with false accusations and took years off her life. The lawsuit became a "noxious subtle film (that) had settled all around, making everything vaguely unfamiliar and unpleasant. I had become a little unfamiliar to myself". Dr. Savitsky retired before the case went to court. "I left my primary care practice after almost 30 years. I can’t say it was because of being sued, but I can’t say it was irrelevant either." To the doctor involved, the lawsuit was "deeply personal" and the "experience was devastating". The case never went to trial because evidently there NEVER was a case. The patient's lawyers tried to back out because it was unwinnable. The family wanted to continue. Eventually it was dropped - YEARS AFTER IT ALL STARTED.
The big trend to allow doctors to say they are sorry to patients when things go wrong is gaining traction. Here is my question - where is the "I'm sorry" when the doctor is wrongfully sued? I am sure Dr. Savitsky would love to hear that as well.
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