I don't like doctors appologizing to me unless it goes something like this...

*hand extended...concerned look on face* "Hello Mrs. Lixy. I'm soooooooo terribly sorry for making you wait 1 and 1/2 [+] hours for an appointment to see me. I know you're in pain/discomfort/snot running down your face...et al: and I have no right scheduling appointments for every 15 minutes when I know damn right well I can't get to my next patient for at least 1/2 hour or more. I listen to everyone's concerns and I am a good doctor when you finally get in to see me...but I have no common sense or caring in asking you to put your life on hold to sit in my stinky waiting room and catch who-knows-what from all the other sick people in there waiting for who knows how long. I should know better than to think that is why you are all called patients. Yep! Patience and patients are two different things and I am so sorry that I just now realized that"!

In my book...we are all human and prone to err at times. An appology wouldn't be right if a lawyer is standing behind it. On the other hand...the expectation of an appology wouldn't be right if a lawyer is standing behind it either! Seems to me that lawyers have ruined this whole "doctor/patient relationship" thing. All I expect is, if the doc makes a mistake and realizes it in time...he/she make it better to the best of their ability ASAP...and don't act like nothing was wrong. And...do it without that oh-so-fucked-up condescending attitude!

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~