Apology Shield - Diagnosing Truth With a Broken Lie Detector
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WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO EXPOSE THE FAKE APOLOGY
We’ve been covering the apology shield this week and I’m having fun with it, but deep down there’s a serious side to this entire discussion. What is really at stake is the simple dignity of the American way of life. Our dignity should not be for sale and that’s what the apology shield did, it sold manufactured truth to the highest bidder, in this case the insurance industry and medical profession. If we allow anyone to lie to juries, our system of law and order is imperiled. Allowing someone to say to a jury that they did nothing wrong, when in fact they have earlier admitted they did something wrong is government approved lying. Its society saying to the youth of America, that in some instances our government approves of us lying; especially when money is involved. Boiled down to it’s essence we are approving lying when it’s to our economic advantage. Maybe the youth of America could benefit from an official lie register, where all State sanctioned lies could be catalogued.
I did a terrible job or raising my children so I’m no one to talk, but raising children is already too difficult. If we now allow the government to sanction lying to juries chaos can’t be far behind. In this instance the law is as wrong as wrong can be. Those behind this law should be ashamed of what this law promotes. Those legislators who voted for the apology shield should be thrown out of office. As a man who cares about the truth and about the America culture, the lack of shame shown by those advocating for the apology shield shocks me. I’ve said it before and I believe it’s worth repeating. Just because something is legal doesn’t make it right. And not everything that is wrong can be corrected by passing a law that says it’s now right and proper behavior.
Just because something is legal doesn’t make it right. And not everything that is wrong can be corrected by passing a law that says it’s now right and proper behavior.
You can not legislate truth. You can’t create a law that says what is wrong is now right and believe anyone will believe it is right. To do so is just wrong. Condoning lying to save money is foolishness to the nth degree. This goes right back to the Participation Trophy Syndrome. You can’t make winners out of our losers simply by handing out a fake trophy. Winners don’t want a participation trophy, only losers will accept one. Winners want to win one. They want to have earned the right to say they are winners. Losers want to be told they are winners when they acted like losers. Handing out participation trophies encourages internal dishonesty; and in this instance the apology shield is doing just that; it’s encouraging dishonest behavior.
Condoning lying to save money is foolishness to the nth degree.
If that’s what society wants then I want no part of it. I abhor participation trophies because they encourage the wrong ideas and do nothing to build good honest character. Young people and old people alike need to fail to learn how to win. Opportunities to do the right thing will never be recognized and fully appreciated if everyone gets to always feel good no matter how poorly they performed. Pop psychology that wants everyone to feel good about themselves is insidiously self-destructive. The apology-shield is nothing more than a glorified participation trophy. Doctors who want the right to a fake apology are being handed a participation trophy and are acting, no they are losers.
If America is now handing out participation trophies to blundering professionals then doing it right no longer matters. Why should professionals care if they make a mistake? Shame on the State legislatures; shame on the state medical communities that sat back and didn’t resist the temptation for the right to lie to the jury; and shame on all of us for saying nothing in opposition. And you wonder why this next generation seems uninterested in working hard? Why should they be, isn’t it enough that they showed up. “I showed up, where is my trophy?” Winners win and losers lose, that’s a fact of life. For the sake of developing good character we need to teach, which probably requires us to relearn, how to lose with grace and our reputations intact.
If America is now handing out participation trophies to blundering professionals then doing it right no longer matters.
TODAY'S "APOLOGY" - THE ONE THAT NEVER HAPPENED
Today’s apology is one that to my knowledge never occurred. It’s the apology the University of Florida owes to this protester Andrew Meyers. They punished him using a Taser just for speaking his mind. I don't care if there was a single person in the room who agreed with him, in this country we support free speech. Kerry owes him an apology for sitting by without speaking up. Listen as members of the audience laugh as the young man is being shocked. Were they happy he was being punished for just speaking his mind? At that time and still today, it was obvious to me Kerry didn’t have what it takes to be President. If he did Kerry would have stood up, taken the mic and told the officers to step down and to allow the young man to ask his questions. Kerry should have then answered them, assuming they were legitimate questions. If not, Kerry could have declined. Instead Kerry stands by watching this display of what can only be described as a group of campus police acting like common thugs. When a Presidential candidate hasn’t even the backbone to stand up and debate the protester, instead allowing him to be Tased, to shut him up, it’s clear he hasn’t read or understood the United States Constitution. He’s clueless about what makes this country what it is.
And that’s today’s apology; it’s the one that never occurred.
University of Florida Response – The Over-Intellectualized Veiled Apology – Maybe we are sorry and then maybe we aren’t. At the end I’ll include the raw footage from the campus police escorting him out the building and discussing his “inciting a riot”. That’s a waste can charge intentionally mean to be vague and useful in any number of situations where the police need an excuse to make what they did sound legitimate. This is the same mentality to thinks reengineering the facts will make people believe a different version of the true facts. In Wyoming the charge de’ jure is “interference”. [See the comment from Glenrock in The Bush Legacy Paraded in Wyoming: An Intolerant Police State, a new low for America.] And that’s the problem with officially saying it’s alright to apologize for doing something wrong, but then going to court and testifying under oath you did nothing wrong. Gee, for some strange reason this lacks truth, is not genuine and smacks of an untruthful character. A butterfly flying by that distracts an officer on duty is interference.
To read this series on the apology shield follow these links:
Why Should I Apologize?, September 22, 2009
"I'm very sorry.", but really I'm not., September 23, 2009
An Apology Free From Risk, Isn't Really An Apology, September 24, 2009
How To Expose The Fake Medical Apology, September 25, 2009
Fixing Medical Malpractice by Fixing the Truth, Todays
To read more about American society and the Participation Trophy Syndrome, read Coach Lombardi’s posts on the subject:
Only losers want a participation trophy, winners want to win one. ...
... Only losers want a participation trophy, winners want to win one. ... And remember, only losers want a participation trophy, winners want to win one. ...
No Participation Trophy for Either the Hawkeyes or the Cyclones ...
... No Participation Trophy for Either the Hawkeyes or the Cyclones. ...
FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT: Is the answer to frivolous Wall Street ...
The Participation Trophy Syndrome Wall Street ... FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT: Is the answer to frivolous Wall Street bonuses, The Participation Trophy Syndrome. ...
Rubin Navarrette has it right - Don't rescue those looking for a ...
... Rubin Navarrette has it right - Don't rescue those looking for a participation trophy. Let litigation teach them a lesson. ... Losers want a participation trophy. ...
Arkansas Board of Medicine "Sanctions" Surgeon with a " ...
... Arkansas Board of Medicine "Sanctions" Surgeon with a "Participation Trophy". ... A participation trophy in youth sports is a parent's diseased thinking. ...
Sarah Palin promised it would not be politics as usual, and ...
... She epitomizes the Participation Trophy Syndrome. Where is my trophy; after all I showed up. ... She wants a participation trophy for showing up. …
Tort Reform is leading to more, not fewer personal injury lawsuits ...
... We no longer expect our children to earn a trophy, instead feeling guilty we employ the participation trophy. ... Fact, only losers want a participation trophy. ...
Law School Graduation Blues | InjuryBoard Des Moines
... Only losers want a participation trophy. ... She didn't phone the coach demanding he give me a participation trophy to make sure I felt good about myself. ...
Tradition is Tradition and Palin Should Bite the Head off the ...
... This debacle demonstrates why Participation Trophies are so wrong. I wonder if the Russians were ever nervous with Governor Palin being so close to Russia. ...
American Politics - What can a sewer plant controversy teach us ...
... Participation Trophy Syndrome –. Parents all across ... banquet. Only losers want a participation trophy; winners want to win one. It’s ...
BLOG COMPENDIUM
The Injuryboard Series on the Medical Apology Shield, by Steve Lombardi of the Lombardi Law Firm
1. Why Should I Apologize? -
Steve Lombardi | September 22, 2009 9:42 AM | Des Moines, IA
Hopefully our mother’s and father’s taught us that after you do something wrong you should apologize. The apology is meant to communicate a sincere feeling of remorse. We are taught...
2. "I'm very sorry.", but really I'm not.
Steve Lombardi | September 23, 2009 10:49 AM | Des Moines, IA
Yesterday we discussed three recent incidents where an apology was necessary to correct an error of judgment. Those incidents involved Kanye West, Serena Williams and Congressman Joe Wilson....
3. An Apology Free From Risk, Isn't Really An Apology
Steve Lombardi | September 24, 2009 10:15 AM | Des Moines, IA
After making a mistake why should medical professionals want to apologize? How about because it’s the right thing to do and you’ll sleep better at night having set the record straight...
4. Why are there so many lawsuits?
Steve Lombardi | September 25, 2009 4:17 PM | Des Moines, IA
It's the question every tort reformer loves to ask and it's probably because then it's easy to avoid the real problem. On September 3rd 2009 15 year old Rachel Stewart was headed north on I-380...
5. How To Expose The Fake Medical Apology
Steve Lombardi | September 25, 2009 10:05 AM | Des Moines, IA
A Patient’s Guide to Dealing with the New Fake Medical Apologies Today's apology is Chris Matthews apologizing for his characterization of Hillary Clinton's success in politics coming down to...
6. Apology Shield - Diagnosing Truth With a Broken Lie Detector
Steve Lombardi | September 26, 2009 10:47 AM | Des Moines, IA
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO EXPOSE THE FAKE APOLOGY We’ve been covering the apology shield this week and I’m having fun with it, but deep down there’s a serious side to this...
7. It’s Too Late To Apologize
Steve Lombardi | September 28, 2009 10:43 AM | Des Moines, IA
WHY THEY ASK FOR THE RIGHT TO LIE WITH A FAKE APOLOGY An interesting thing about those wanting the apology shield is the emotion that drove them to ask the Iowa legislature to enact the law....
9. What States Officially Sanction The Apology Lie?
Steve Lombardi | October 01, 2009 10:10 AM | Des Moines, IA
We shouldn't wonder why this next generation seems confused and uncommitted to community. With 35 states either considering or having passed laws allowing perjury by legal fiction they should be...
10. What States Officially Sanction The Apology Lie?
Steve Lombardi | October 01, 2009 10:10 AM | Des Moines, IA
11. Apology Shield, Still not asking the right question.
Steve Lombardi | October 02, 2009 10:15 AM | Des Moines, IA
We are talking about apology shields and how it affects America’s character. Today I want to discuss a statement that is quoted from the original investigation by a group of researchers...
12. Fake Apology, State Sanctioned Lies
Steve Lombardi | October 03, 2009 9:35 AM | Des Moines, IA
I’ve covered the apology shield and today will be my last post on this subject, at least for now. I see it as state sanctioned approval of lying under oath. Some may disagree, but let me...
LAWYER AND NEWS REPORTER TALK: It’s time to sign off on this series about the medical apology shield, but it’s not time to stop thinking about it. If you send your news story, case ruling or the citation and title I’ll post about the effects of this rule of evidence and how it affected your clients and the other parties to the case. That offer is extended to both sides of the courtroom, plaintiff and defense. The offer is also directed to all news media reporters and to Judges whose rulings affect the rights of people and the fabric of the American culture.
You may contact me at sdlombardi@aol.com or fax it to 515-222-0718 or by snail mail to Lombardi Law Firm, 4200 Corporate Drive, Suite 112, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. I enjoy hearing from all the parties and encourage the physicians to contact us as well. We will talk to you confidentially if so required.
From the Injuryboard and The Verdict, I remain true to the truth, even when it is unpleasant to write about or to hear. Steve Lombardi