Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Misleading or Misreading: Why Do Radiologists Face Medical Malpractice so Often?

Radiologists make up about 3.6% of practicing medical doctors, however they rank 6th among all specialists in the number of malpractice claims for which they've been defendants. From 1985-2002, radiologists were sued more frequently than plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, gastroenterologists, and cardiologists.

Medical malpractice cases generally arise from two issues: improper medical care resulting in harm, or a poor doctor-patient relationship.

Radiologists specialize in the analysis of injuries and disorders using techniques and medical imaging equipment such as x-rays, positron emission tomography (PET), nuclear medicine, and ultrasound. Radiologists interpret and review these scans for diagnosis including internal bleeding, cancer, or fractures.

Radiological "misses" generally relate to either missed fractures or missed diagnosis of cancer. Misinterpretations of imaging associated with the breast and breast cancer were the most common cause of misdiagnosis leading to malpractice suits.

A review of 562 breast cancer malpractice claims by medical liability insurers from 2009 to 2014, found that 61% of the claims were related to alleged delays in diagnosis. Almost 48% of those delayed-diagnosis cases included radiology to some extent.

Radiological "misses" can result in serious effects for a patient. In 2012, the National Institute of Health released a scathing report claiming that mistakes in reading radiological scans generally arise from poor technique, lack of knowledge and experience, or failures of perception.

Please contact us for more information regarding medical malpractice.

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