Bill > H494

This bill proposes to amend Massachusetts General Laws to protect certain communications and establish procedures for managing adverse health care events. Specifically, it aims to make statements of apology, regret, or sympathy from healthcare providers, their employees, or facilities to patients, their families, or representatives inadmissible as evidence in any legal or administrative proceeding if they relate to an "unanticipated outcome," which is defined as a medical result that differs from the intended one. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Public Health develop regulations and best practices for hospitals to create "Adverse Event Management Plans" following an "adverse event," defined as an injury to a patient caused by medical management rather than their underlying condition, requiring facilities to submit these plans to the department and the department to issue an annual report.