"I'm Sorry" Bill Passes Assembly

During a floor session that ran through the night, the Assembly passed AB-147 by a bipartisan vote of 62-33.  The bill provides that a statement or conduct of a health care provider that expresses "apology, benevolence, compassion, condolence, fault, liability, remorse, responsibility, or sympathy" to a patient or patient's relative or representative is not admissible into evidence or subject to discovery in any civil action or administrative hearing regarding the health care provider as evidence of liability or as an admission against interest.  The legislation is supported by a broad range of health care provider groups and the Wisconsin Medical Society.

AB-147 will now to to the Senate.  The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations has already passed the Senate comparison (SB-103).  Each house must pass the exact same bill before it could go to the Governor.