Should doctors admit their mistakes to lower litigation costs?

Five New York City hospitals have agreed to start a pilot program to divulge medical mistakes early.  This program hopes to cut costs for medical-malpractice suits by offering settlements quickly and using special state “health courts,” where judges will help negotiate settlements before trial.  The federally funded program “aims to cut the $1.4 billion spent annually in New York State on medical-malpractice premiums,” hospital and state officials say.  This is one of several programs to encourage hospitals to acknowledge and reduce medical errors.