I think the likely reason docs are hesitant to apologize is because they are afraid of repercussions–which are often unjust. Too often healthcare professionals (and perhaps all professionals) are made to be scapegoats to protect the bigger entity. As noted in the article, docs (and nurses!) are human, and mistakes are bound to be made. There is also a tendency for peers to bring each other down for having made mistakes.
The problem about medical mistakes is so much bigger than most people realize. Permission to apologize is a great step, as it lets docs know that we understand mistakes are made, and that we need to talk about them. How else will we learn?
Another problem is that mistakes in healthcare are so rarely the result of one person’s error. The bad ones (and ‘near misses’) often involve several parties. Unfortunately, it’s often the doc that takes the fall. If various safeguards failed to protect the patient, it makes no sense to crucify any one individual. We need to step back, look at what happened, and make changes to protect future patients.
Complex issue that warrants continued discussion.

Mary Kay