Radiologist Malpractice

What is Radiologist Malpractice

Radiologists are specially trained in reviewing images of the body that include X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and nuclear medicine studies, to name a few. The radiologist is able to assist clinical doctors in making a diagnosis and assessing treatment, as well as perform certain procedures to treat diseases. Just like other medical professionals, radiologists must adhere to a standard of care concerning the quality of their evaluation and interpretation of the images they review. It is a deviation from the standard of care when a radiologist fails to properly review and report a study. Errors made by a radiologist can negatively affect patient care.

Radiologists can make perceptual errors by failing to detect an abnormality that is shown in the imaging study. Failing to detect an abnormality leads to a delay in treatment that can negatively affect the patient’s outcome. Radiologists can also err by identifying a normal structure as an abnormal finding, leading to unnecessary investigation or treatment. A second type of error made by a radiologist is an incorrect interpretation of the finding seen on the images. Once the radiologist detects an abnormality, he or she must provide an interpretation as to what the abnormality may represent and recommend any necessary follow up studies or clinical correlations. If the radiologist fails to properly interpret the finding correctly, such as when a malignant lesion is interpreted as benign on a mammogram, serious patient harm can occur.

Radiologists can also fail to communicate critical findings to the referring physician, which can cause a delay in or failure of appropriate clinical treatment. Certain critical findings require that the radiologist contact the referring physician by phone immediately and not merely rely on the report to convey the information. Sometimes a radiologist’s report is unclear, incomplete or ambiguous, which can lead to misinterpretation by the referring physician. These communication errors can be just as harmful to the patient’s outcome as failing to properly see and interpret the abnormality.

The radiologist is also responsible for identifying those studies which are inadequate for proper interpretation and advising of any need for repeat imaging. Failing to recommend appropriate follow-up testing for abnormal findings is another way harm can occur.

These errors in radiology practice can have serious consequences. It is important to have an attorney who is knowledgeable about imaging studies and how radiologists are supposed to review, interpret, and communicate information to the referring physician. Having a physician attorney assess radiology malpractice cases helps to identify the places in which errors caused injury. Armand Leone, MD, Esq., one of our Founding Partners, is not only an attorney but also a Board Certified Diagnostic Radiologist.