1
Malpractice Apology Annotated Bibliography Assignment
Lisa Tressler
School of Health Sciences, Liberty University
BUSI 302: Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare
Professor Susan Lopp
September 22, 2025
2
Malpractice Apology Annotated Bibliography
Medical malpractice is a common phenomenon that happens frequently every year, and
almost all healthcare professionals can be held responsible to patients for these occurrences.
When a careless act or oversight that causes injury to a patient is committed by a physician or
other healthcare provider, this is referred to as medical malpractice. This is vital for both
patients and healthcare providers since malpractice expenses have risen significantly in recent
years. In order to keep up with the contemporary developments, various states have introduced
bills concerning medical malpractice. God tells His people to admit when they have done wrong
and take responsibility for it and not attempt to conceal or justify it. A Biblical perception
concerning medical malpractice would propose assuming responsibility and seeking an
additional method of reconciling the circumstance.
Area of study: Physical therapist assistant
References
ABPLA Board (n.d.). What is Malpractice? American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys.
Retrieved September 16, 2025, from https://www.abpla.org/what-is-malpractice#medical
The American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys informs readers about the area of
medical malpractice. In addition to defining medical malpractice, it also gives clear, practical
examples of it. This is a relevant resource because it helps viewers clearly understand the
concept of medical malpractice.
American Physical Therapy Association. (2010). Purpose.
https://www.apta.org/contentassets/7cbd42e5a7e94740a07bf790b9b79fc6/apta-guide-
forconduct-pta.pdf
The American Physical Therapy Association gives practical guidelines on how clinicians are to
handle patients in an ethical manner. Exhibiting sincerity and reliability towards patients, their
families, colleagues, and others outside the profession, is emphasized by this organization. This
3
is an appropriate resource because it highlights how complying with the local, state, and federal
regulations and treating patients in a moral and ethical way reduces the risk of injury and
liability.
Brock, D. M., Quella, A., Lipira, L., Lu, D. W., & Gallagher, T. H. (2014). Physician Assistants and
the Disclosure of Medical Error. Academic Medicine, 89(6), 858–862. National
Library of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1097/acm.0000000000000261
This organization provides clear recommendations on how to address medical malpractice. The
authors state that they believe education programs in medical malpractice disclosure skills
would be highly beneficial. This source is relevant because it specifically stresses the importance
of error disclosure, a clear apology, explaining the medical implications and how they will be
handled, and how these errors will be averted in the future.
MD, K. B. (2022, June 2). Medical Errors and the Gift of Grace. Christian Medical & Dental
Associations® (CMDA).
https://cmda.org/medical-errors-and-the-gift-of-grace/
The CMDA reminds readers that healthcare providers do not and cannot always cure every
single one of their patients. Despite the advances in technology and medicine, the allegations
that any disease and disorder can be treated because of this are deceptive since we live in a
fallen world. It also prompts readers to consider that although guilt and memories of errors may
continually haunt them and that no one deserves mercy, God still bestowed His grace upon us.
This resource is applicable because it demonstrates how the concepts in 2 Corinthians 5:21 and
Romans 5:8 are pertinent to the healthcare field and can be a source of consolation for Christian
health professionals when errors are made.
Mustol, J. (2010, December 27). The Ethics of Medical Error. Christian Ethics Today.
https://christianethicstoday.com/wp/the-ethics-of-medical-error/
4
The concept of how costly medical malpractice is to both patients and healthcare providers is
emphasized. It reminds readers that the primary focus should be on the patient, though the
emotional pain of the healthcare provider and the injustice of the tort system should not be
overlooked either. This resource is relevant since it reminds us that Christian healthcare workers
should promote a more empathetic, repentant, reconciling, and peaceful method of handling
medical malpractice situations.
Murphy, R., Goucher, S., Sullivan, C., Moloney-Jones, A., Derbidge, C., & Henricksen, J. (2021,
March 18). How to Disclose Medical Errors and Unanticipated Outcomes. University of Utah.
Retrieved September 16, 2025, from
https://healthcare.utah.edu/integrative-health
wellness/resiliencycenter/news/2021/03/howdisclose-medical-errors-and
The University of Utah Health provides valuable insight on how to share malpractice with
patients and their families. It also highlights how explicit and timely affirmation can help
develop trust with patients and decrease the risk of prosecution. The reason this source is
relevant is because a clear and detailed multiple step strategy for disclosing a medical error is
presented.
Position Statement: A Christian Response to Adverse Outcomes. (2014). Christian Pharmacists
Fellowship International. https://www.cpfi.org/assets/docs/Position_Statements/cpfi
%20position%20statement%20 christian%20response%20to%20adverse
%20outcomes.pdf
This resource clearly demonstrates the significance of how responses to undesirable results
must include empathy, a timely reply that exhibits sympathy, a wish that it did not occur, and
delivery of proper medical care. Patients should be assured of a truthful explanation and a
detailed analysis of the detrimental outcome. This resource is relevant because it highlights the
5
fundamental principles of repentance, confession, restitution, forgiveness, and thanksgiving and
how they apply to handling medical malpractice situations.
Roberts, R. G. (2007). The Art of Apology: When and How to Seek Forgiveness. Family
Practice Management, 14(7), 44–49.
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/fpm/issues/2007/0700/p44.html
This article specifically discusses when to apologize and factors to consider when determining if
one is necessary. When a healthcare provider does not fully understand what happened and a
patient or close relative demands an immediate apology, this article explains how to do so in a
calm and ethical manner. The strategy of learning how to deliver an effective apology, including
the potential outcomes, is also highlighted here. This resource is relevant because it emphasizes
the importance of implementing the principles of sympathy and compassion with distraught
patients, as well as forgiveness on the patient’s behalf.
Analysis
Medical malpractice is a recurrent issue that affects both healthcare providers and
patients. Every year malpractice expenditure for healthcare professionals increases greatly, and
as a result, states are passing bills each year to address this dilemma. As someone who is
studying to become a physical therapist assistant, it is vital that they comprehend the concept
of medical malpractice and recognize that it is their responsibility to help prevent the risk of
malpractice. God is clear that He wants His people to take responsibility for their transgressions.
Thus, alternate solutions could possibly be utilized if healthcare professionals can apologize and
explain to patients who have been recipients of medical malpractice.
