March 16, 2023
Legislation to promote candid conversations between physicians and patients following an adverse event at a hospital or clinic, passed the House Judiciary Committee on March 14.
Under today’s current litigious climate, physicians and other providers are advised by attorneys to avoid speaking with affected patients and their families because of a fear of potential malpractice lawsuits. This results in the injured patients receiving very little information about what happened to them.
HF 1181 (Rep. Norris, DFL-Blaine) implements the Communication and Optimal Resolution (CANDOR) model that was developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. It is intended to improve patient safety by encouraging conversations when both patients and providers agree to voluntarily engage in open conversations without fear that what is said will be later used in a lawsuit.
MMA President Will Nicholson, MD, testified in support of the bill, which is an MMA legislative priority. “This legislation is first and foremost about patient safety,” Nicholson said. “After a bad outcome, patients want to understand what went wrong and what led to the bad outcome. However, in the current environment, providers are told by the attorneys not to say anything for fear of litigation. Therefore, a patient or their family may never hear about what went wrong.”
The bill is also supported by the Minnesota Association for Justice (MAJ), representing the state’s plaintiff attorneys. States that have passed CANDOR laws have seen cases being resolved in less than one year, versus a lawsuit that may take several years.
HF 1181 passed with a unanimous vote and was sent to the House floor. The Senate companion bill is expected to be heard in the next two weeks.
August 20, 2026
A physician and Olympian will give an inspirational address as part of this year's Empowering Physicians event on Friday, September 25, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
August 20, 2026
Minnesota received some disturbing news this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as data shows that for the 2025-2026 school year, vaccination rates decreased and non-medical exemptions increased.
August 20, 2026
On August 11, a federal appellate court sided with the Texas Medical Association (TMA) argument that the way the No Surprises Act’s qualifying payment amount (QPA) is calculated has historically favored payers in arbitration.