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A meaningful professional apology regarding patient care should not reveal any resentment the doctor may have about having to make it, or insincerity about the issues, says Wellington barrister Gaeline Phipps
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1. Whitman AB, Park DM, Hardin SB. How do patients want physicians to handle mistakes?, A survey of internal medicine patients in an academic setting. Arch Intern Med 1996;156(22):2565–69.
2. R v Hugel trial ruling not reported, for the costs decision see unreported, High Court Rotorua, T99/97, 20 October 1998, Paterson J. The Judge excluded attempts of the Crown to use the apology as an admission of liability, in the Hugel manslaughter trial.
3. Carvel D (GP; Glasgow, UK). The downward spiral [editorial]. BMJ 2000;321:715.
Respiratory physician Lutz Beckert considers chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management, including the prevention of COPD, the importance of smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation, and the lifesaving potential of addressing treatable traits. He also discusses the logic of inhaler therapy, moving from single therapy to dual and triple therapy when indicated, as well as other aspects of management
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