Title

Structuring and Disciplining Apology: A Structurational Analysis of Health Care Benevolence Laws

Abstract

Health care benevolence laws, a form of tort reform law, mandate statements of sympathy or apology by health care providers and facilities in cases of medical mistakes. These laws create a shared language and sense of meaning for individuals involved in the legal aftermath of medical mistakes. Structuration theory guides this textual analysis to explore how benevolence laws discursively create and structure shared meaning about apology. This analysis highlights how benevolence laws structure apology and discursively discipline medical practitioners, underscoring the importance of ambiguity in law interpretation.

Department(s)

Communication

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/17459430903413432

Keywords

apology, benevolence laws, health, medical mistakes, structuration

Publication Date

2010

Journal Title

Qualitative Research Reports in Communication

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