The Associated Press issued an article that hospitals in the University of Michigan Health System have been encouraging doctors since 2002 to apologize for mistakes. The system’s annual attorney fees have since dropped from $3 million to $1 million, and malpractice lawsuits and notices of intent to sue have fallen from 262 filed in 2001 to about 130 per year, said Rick Boothman, a former trial attorney who launched the practice there.

    Unfortunately this seems to be an isolated incident. The news is full of stories highlighting alls sorts of mistakes made by companies and their employees. Yet what we rarely see is one of the first words children learn (and frequently get told to use):

    “Sorry.”

When was the last time you said sorry?

When was the last time you as a customer were told “sorry”?

Or one of your team members?

Is sorry part of dealing with disgruntled customers or suppliers?

Tags: 1 million associated press attorney fees doctors hospitals malpractice lawsuits michigan health system sorry sorts system team members trial attorney university of michigan university of michigan health when was the last time