The Impact of Medical-Legal Issues in Strategic Planning for PACS and Teleradiology Implementation

Emerging issues in medical imaging

“…Digital imaging technologies have acquired sufficient reliability and cost-effectiveness to convince imaging providers to shift from film-based to filmless departments. It has allowed widespread use of teleradiology (17) with the potential to improve healthcare access, delivery and standards, but can also raise complex new legal and ethical issues (18). These include image retention and fraud, privacy, malpractice liability, licensing and credentialing, and contracts for PACS and tele-radiology.…”

“…A proposal for security in tele-radiology based on legal considerations has been published in Germany (22). Teleradiology, in contrast to 'local environment radiology' , may not allow adequate exposure of the distant interpreter to important clinical findings, unless new practice standards require sizeable images and data transfer (17). Failure of a local radiologist to seek second "electronic" opinion may be a malpractice offence and plaintiffs may challenge the local diagnosis after 'shopping for a tele-radiologist's opinion' .…”