Medical malpractice in diagnostic radiology: claims, compensation, and patient injury.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide more information to diagnostic radiologists regarding claims, compensation, and patient injury in medical malpractice cases. Malpractice cases filed against the U.S. government were reviewed. The most common claim was misdiagnosis of a malignancy (30% of the cases); in these cases the claimants received relatively high compensation. Most of these cases involved failure to diagnose lung carcinomas on chest radiographs and failure to diagnose colon carcinomas on barium enema studies. The findings emphasize the importance of having the members of a radiology department, regardless of professional level, work together as a team.

Malpractice Suits in Chest Radiology

“…12,13 This was substantiated in a further study with comparison with frequency of suits by body systems. In a more recent study of military personnel, 14 malignancies, many of which were of the lung, exceeded fractures as the cause of malpractice claims against radiologists.…”

Improved Detection of Lung Nodules by Using a Temporal Subtraction Technique

“…In particular, lung cancer lesions have been reported as the most frequently missed lesions leading to such litigation (15)(16)(17)(18). Therefore, in clinical settings, radiologists may hesitate in diagnosing normal cases with confidence.…”

Perceptual error and the culture of open disclosure in Australian radiology

“…perceptual error) is the most frequent cause of radiology malpractice litigation. The commonest missed diagnosis is cancer 2,3 . The examinations most commonly involved are chest X‐rays and mammography 4 …”

“…The commonest missed diagnosis is cancer. 2,3 The examinations most commonly involved are chest X-rays and mammography. 4 Failures of abnormality detection in film reading (i.e.…”