LANCASTER, PA, October 29, 2008  –  James W. Saxton, Esq. and Maggie M. Finkelstein, Esq., of Stevens & Lee co-authored a paper titled “Ethics Training Needs to Emphasize Disclosure and Apology” published in the HEC Forum by SpringerLink. The paper was also co-authored by Doug Wojcieszak, founder of the Sorry Works! Coalition.

The authors write about the need for educational ethics programs for medical schools and nursing schools to incorporate the concept of enhanced communication post-adverse event, or what is commonly termed “disclosure.” They contend that healthcare professionals have an ethical obligation to inform and patients have a right to know. The paper cites that healthcare professionals often fear anticipated potential implications of disclosure that could adversely affect them, their partners and their hospitals. The truth, the paper argues, is that when done right, disclosure post-adverse event is a win-win for the patient, the doctor and the hospital.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
James W. Saxton chairs Stevens & Lee’s Health Care Litigation Group and co-chairs its Health Care Department. He lectures frequently and is an invited speaker across the country on health care issues, including liability reduction and risk management. He is an active trial lawyer, representing providers in state and federal court and administrative proceedings. His practice includes litigation, licensing and medical staff issues. He uses his experience as a litigator to advise hospitals, medical groups and retirement communities throughout the United States in connection with understanding and reducing their professional liability risk.

In addition, Mr. Saxton develops risk reduction strategies for health care providers and organizations nationwide and has created innovative strategies and educational programs to support them. This includes the creation of complete customized loss control programs and event management systems for self-insured organizations and captive insurance groups. Mr. Saxton has published more than 200 articles, several handbooks and seven textbooks including most recently, Five-Star Customer Service: A Step-by-Step Guide for Physician Practices.

Maggie M. Finkelstein concentrates her practice in health law with a focus on loss control and event management for physicians, hospitals, staff and long-term care communities. She has developed risk reduction opportunities in the health care industry. Ms. Finkelstein has conducted research and analysis of various risk management and liability risk issues including the risks associated with bariatric surgery, gastroenterology and obstetrics. She also is a member of the Litigation Group, litigating in both federal and state courts, defending physicians, hospitals, and long-term care communities.

Ms. Finkelstein is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association and regularly publishes on loss control and risk management topics, including books, handbooks and book chapters. She is the co-author of Sorry Works! Disclosure, Apology and Relationships Prevent Medical Malpractice Claims; Five-Star Customer Service: A Step-by-Step Guide for Physician Practices; 15 Policies and Procedures to Reduce Liability for Physician Practices; “Bariatric Surgery: A Comprehensive Bariatric Program Can Act to Reduce Liability Risks and to Promote Patient Safety”; “The New Universal Protocol: Can Adhesive Labels Prevent Wrong Site Surgery and Reduce Liability Risks?”; and Minimizing Endoscopic Complications: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of North America.

Doug Wojcieszak is the Founder of the SorryWorks! Coalition, an organization dedicated to promoting full-disclosure methods as a middle-ground solution to the malpractice crisis. Mr. Wojcieszak has spoken on disclosure and apology to thousands of medical, insurance, and legal professionals in the United States, Canada, and Australia. In December 2007, Mr. Wojcieszak released the SorryWorks! book co-authored with James Saxton and Maggie Finkelstein. The book has sold thousands of copies and is listed on Oprah Selects.com. Mr. Wojcieszak teaches healthcare, insurance and legal professionals that what patients and families want most after adverse events and bad outcomes is honesty, accountability, communication and a real commitment to fix problems.

ABOUT STEVENS & LEE
Among the 200 largest law firms in the nation, Stevens & Lee is part of a multidisciplinary professional services platform which also consists of a FINRA-licensed investment bank, an SEC registered money manager, a D&O and E&O insurance risk consulting business, a swap and derivative advisory business, federal and state lobbying units, a health care risk consulting business and a government incentives and sales and use tax consulting business.

The firm’s 240 multidisciplinary professionals represent clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and across the country from 15 offices in: Reading, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Valley Forge, Lancaster, the Lehigh Valley, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Princeton and Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Wilmington, Delaware; New York City and Charleston, South Carolina.