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 28, 2025
The apparent removal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director, Susan Monarez, PhD, after just weeks on the job, further imperils the work of the CDC and the health of Americans. Her removal was followed by the resignations of other senior leaders at the CDC, who have accused HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. of undermining scientific recommendations for vaccines.
August 26, 2025
University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham, MD, will speak at the Empowering Physicians: A Night of Learning & Connection event on Friday, September 26, from 4 to 9 pm, at the historic Hewing Hotel in downtown Minneapolis.
August 26, 2025
America's physicians are seeing a rise in misinformation and disinformation from patients these days, and it’s impacting patient care, according to a new study from the Physicians Foundation.