Getting doctors and patients to see an issue from each other’s perspective is never easy, but our Medical Paralegal Corine Mogenis recently participated in a forum designed to do just that. The forum, sponsored by the New England Journal of Medicine, was organized to facilitate conversations between lawyers, patients who were subject to malpractice, advocates, physicians, and medical students, with the hope that improved communication would illuminate opposing viewpoints and provide guidance on how groups can work together to decrease medical errors.

“It was a privilege to participate in such an important, timely forum,” Corie explained. “It was heartening to witness discussions in which previously harmed patients explained their feelings and opinions to doctors, and doctors reacted in an open and honest setting. Getting a doctor to understand the impact of the error from the patient’s point of view is a substantial part of the battle in fostering an open dialogue. It was wonderful to contribute to the discussions and better understand both sides of the coin,” she said.

“Obviously, this is a topic very close to my heart and clearly where my passion lies. If one physician walked away with a different opinion of victims of malpractice, or lawyers who litigate these claims and why, then I think that was well worth it,” Corie concluded.

Thanks to the participation of Corie and other experts like her, the forum received over 16,000 visitors in one week!