Cynthia F. Newton presented “A Litigator’s Perspective: 10 Helpful Things Effective Mediators Do” at the Oregon Mediation Association’s 2014 Annual Meeting in Portland on November 7. Her talk, part of the session entitled Mediating Adverse Medical Events, was designed to educate mediators about Oregon’s new law allowing for early discussion and mediation of adverse medical events (OL2013, Chap. 5), operative July 1, 2014.
The law is designed to offer patients or their representatives and healthcare facilities or providers a process in which open yet confidential conversations can occur in situations involving serious injury or death. It does not preclude or prevent the filing of medical negligence actions in court for injuries and damages caused by providers’ negligence, but serves as an early alternative to suit.
For more information about this new law call Cynthia or go to https://edr.oregonpatientsafety.org.