Abstract
The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement "proposed rule" (2008) was published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2008. This "proposed rule," with a comment period extending to April 14, 2008, was created for the purpose of implementing specific facets of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005; those dealing with the establishment of Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs), confidentiality protection for patient safety activities, and patient safety work product, and reporting by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to Congress regarding successful strategies that have reduced medical errors and have thereby increased patient safety.