Baltimore Radiology Error Lawyers

Radiologists are responsible for important screenings used to diagnose serious medical conditions. If your radiologist failed to do their job properly you may have been misdiagnosed or had your diagnoses delayed. In cases like this, the attorneys at Murphy, Falcon & Murphy have been able to recover millions of dollars for their clients.

Proper Diagnosis

Testing is a vital component to receiving a timely and accurate diagnosis. Errors can occur in the administering of the test, interpreting the results of the test, or failing to communicate the test results in a timely manner. Hospitals and clinics should have policies and procedures in place that prevent these types of mistakes.

Negligent Radiologists

The radiology department exists to perform tests and provide the results to the physician who needs to diagnose an illness or injury to be able to provide the patient with necessary treatment.

Radiology negligence can lead to dangerous issues such as:

  • Delays in diagnosing cancer. Many cancers can be cured if they are caught in the early stages. A delay in diagnosis can mean the difference between surviving or losing the battle.
  • Misreading results leading to harmful or unnecessary treatments or surgery. Important decisions about treatment options are made based on radiological imaging results. If the results are misread, treatment could be ordered that is harmful to the patient because the condition needing the treatment isn’t present in the body.
  • Failing to identify internal bleeding or fractures. Bone fractures and internal bleeding need prompt attention. If gone undetected, a bone fracture could heal improperly and cause life-long impairment. Internal bleeding that’s missed can lead to death.

Error Rates

The error rate for radiologists is much higher than most people are aware of. The average rate of error in the United States is around 30%. Approximately 70% of the errors are due to the radiologist simply missing the abnormality that the scan revealed. The remaining errors are due to misinterpreting the abnormality revealed in the scan.

Radiology Malpractice

There are four components that should be established to file a radiology malpractice lawsuit:

  • Duty owed. The injured party should be able to prove that there was a physician-patient relationship. This relationship establishes that there was a duty of care owed to the plaintiff.
  • Duty breached. The plaintiff should be able to show that the physician didn’t uphold their duty to care for the patient either through their action or inaction.
  • Injury incurred. There must be verifiable injury to the patient as a result of the breach of duty.
  • Real damages. The patient must have sustained injuries that are both real and measurable resulting from the malpractice or negligence.

There may be both economic and non-economic harm enacted, for which the injured party is entitled to compensation. Economic damages refer to compensation for tangible financial items such as medical bills or lost wages. Non-economic harm is the psychological harm called pain and suffering.

In some cases, the hospital or facility may be liable for the error rather than or in addition to the radiologist. There may be a deficiency in the processes and procedures in place for the radiology department. It could be that the radiologist did their job properly but the staff member in charge of inputting the information into the computer or providing it in a timely manner to the physician dropped the ball.

If you or a loved one is suffering consequences because of a radiological error, it may be hard to focus beyond the immediate ramifications you are experiencing. The attorneys at Murphy, Falcon & Murphy want to help address your future and current needs, so you can focus on healing from your injuries. We have recovered millions in damages for our clients. Call today to find out what your rights are.