Indiana is thinking about enacting legislation that would allow doctors to offer written apologies to patients from being used in court against doctors in civil cases:
Under a bill being considered in the House Judiciary Committee, defendants in lawsuits could not be punished for apologizing to plaintiffs before a trial. Other statements of sympathy, such as those expressing condolences or support, also would be blocked from liability…Current Indiana law allows communications of sympathy to be used as evidence in most instances.
– Art Caplan [by the way the pic is from here. Not sure they trust apologies. – Ed.]