Which statement about notifying patients after adverse incidents is true?

• A. It is not an admission of liability.
• B. It is an admission of liability.
• C. It should be reported only if litigation is expected.
• D. It has no bearing on professional practice.

Answer: (A)

Notifying patients after an adverse incident is about transparency, accountability, and patient safety. The statement that to disclose what happened, what was done, and what will be done to prevent recurrence is not an admission of liability reflects how professional practice and state law view disclosure. In Florida, expressions of apology or sympathy do not count as an admission of fault, thanks to the state’s apology statute. This means you can apologize or express concern and still avoid it being used as evidence of liability, while fulfilling ethical duties to inform and care for the patient.

So, telling a patient what happened and how you’re addressing it is appropriate and encouraged, regardless of whether litigation is anticipated. The other options—that disclosure is an admission of liability, that it should be reported only if litigation is expected, or that it has no bearing on practice—do not align with the ethical and legal expectations of nursing practice.