Hospitals shall have in place policies to assure that, when appropriate, information about unanticipated outcomes is provided to patients or their families or any surrogate decision makers identified pursuant to RCW 7.70.065. Notifications of unanticipated outcomes under this section do not constitute an acknowledgment or admission of liability, nor can the fact of notification, the content disclosed, or any and all statements, affirmations, gestures, or conduct expressing apology be introduced as evidence in a civil action.

NOTES:

Policy to be in place beginning January 1, 2006—2005 c 118: “Beginning January 1, 2006, the department shall, during the survey of a hospital, ensure that the policy required in RCW 70.41.380 is in place.” [ 2005 c 118 § 2.]
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Terms Used In Washington Code 70.41.380

  • Department: means the Washington state department of health. See Washington Code 70.41.020
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Hospital: as used in this chapter does not include hotels, or similar places furnishing only food and lodging, or simply domiciliary care; nor does it include clinics, or physician's offices where patients are not regularly kept as bed patients for twenty-four hours or more; nor does it include nursing homes, as defined and which come within the scope of chapter 18. See Washington Code 70.41.020
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