Actor James Woods to testify on RI legislation


February 24, 2012 at 9:42a.m.

Actor James Woods to testify on RI legislation

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island officials say actor James Woods will be testifying before a state legislative committee in support of a bill that would allow doctors to apologize for bad treatment outcomes, but ban those apologies from being used against them in malpractice lawsuits.

The Warwick native is set to testify before the House Committee on Judiciary on Wednesday in favor of the so-called “benevolent gestures” bill.

Woods’ brother, Michael, died of a heart attack at Kent Hospital in 2006. Woods sued the hospital accusing emergency room staff of not doing enough to save his brother, but he settled the lawsuit after a hospital executive apologized and agreed to start an institute in Michael Woods’ name.

Studies show medical malpractice claims decrease when doctors apologize for mistakes and other negative outcomes.