Senate OKs bill protecting expressions of sympathy from healthcare providers

State House – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Pamela J. Lauria to allow medical professionals to express sympathy to patients and their families without risk of legal reprisal.

The legislation (2026-S 2054A) is part of the Senate’s 17-bill package of healthcare legislation centered on supporting Rhode Islanders in crisis, protecting patients and providers and strengthening the state’s health workforce.

The bill would declare that expressions of condolences, apologies, sympathy and the like made by healthcare providers or employees to patients or their families about suffering, injury or death are inadmissible as evidence in any claim or civil action involving that health care provider or employee.

The legislation is aimed at ensuring that healthcare professionals aren’t forced to remain silent at times when they appropriately would like to express feelings of care, concern and sympathy toward patients and their families.

“Healthcare providers enter this profession because they are compassionate and want to help people. They share intimate, often painful, human experiences with patients and families,” said Senator Lauria (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence), who works as a primary care nurse practitioner. “Healthcare providers do care, and they should be able to offer expressions of sympathy and care to their patients and their families without the risk that those words will be used in court as an admission of any kind of guilt or wrongdoing.”

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, where Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown) is sponsoring companion legislation (2026-H 7548).