Jennifer Robbennolt, a University of Illinois professor of law and psychology, says that apologies can potentially help resolve legal disputes, including cases of medical malpractice. She adds that apologies give hurt parties a sense of justice and satisfaction that promotes settlements and eliminates demands for damages.
"Conventional wisdom has been to avoid apologies because they amount to an admission of guilt that can be damaging to defendants in court," she said. "But the studies suggest apologies can actually play a positive role in settling legal cases."
While plaintiffs respond favorably to apologies, another study by Robbennolt shows that lawyers react more in line with traditional thinking: apologies are an admission of guilt that can be used to leverage bigger settlements. She says lawyers may view apologies differently because of their third-party view of the dispute.
When apologies are not enough in instances of medical malpractice, you need the services of an attorney who has a track record of success in such cases. Dr. Bruce G. Fagel is both a practicing attorney and licensed physician. Call him at 800/541-9376 for a free consultation. You can also visit him online at www.fagellaw.com.
