A radiologist, like any other licensed medical professional, can be held liable for medical malpractice. Malpractice lawsuits in radiology are commonly related to inappropriate medical care or a poor physician-patient relationship. If you or someone close to you has suffered harm as a result of a misread radiology report, you should seek the help of a Baltimore medical malpractice lawyer who can assess the merits of your case. At Arfaa Law Group, we have extensive experience in virtually all types of medical malpractice claims.
Holding a Radiologist Accountable for Radiology ErrorsRadiology is a specialty field in medicine primarily dealing with the interpretation of diagnostic films such as CT scans, MRI, x-rays, ultrasounds, sonograms, and other methods of medical imaging. A radiologist is a doctor who specializes in the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease through medical imaging. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), radiology is a specialty area with a high rate of medical negligence lawsuits. The NIH indicates that the failure to diagnose accounts for approximately 40 to 54 percent of radiology-related medical malpractice cases.
A misread radiology report may have serious consequences for a patient. The most common radiology errors include misinterpretation of an abnormal study as normal, the failure to diagnose cancer, the failure to diagnose a bone fracture, such as femur and the cervical spine, and the failure to diagnose an aneurysm. Such mistakes by a radiologist or other medical professional often lead to incorrect treatment, delayed treatment, or no treatment at all. As a result of a patient’s condition not being identified or immediately treated, it may spread or even worsen.
If a radiologist in failing to correctly read and interpret a radiographic report caused harm, you may be able to seek compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit. These claims require showing that a patient has been injured due to a health care professional failing to use the appropriate level of care that another health care professional in the same specialty would have used in the same or similar circumstances. A negligent radiologist who misses a cancer diagnosis that a competent radiologist examining the same report would have detected, may be held responsible for the patient’s resulting harm. A plaintiff may also be able to hold a radiologist liable for failing to effectively and timely communicate a diagnosis to a treating physician.
Under Maryland law, medical malpractice victims can seek both economic and non-economic damages from the at-fault party. Typically, a plaintiff will be able to pursue past and future medical expenses, as well as rehabilitation costs, lost income and benefits, disability, and pain and suffering, among others.
Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in BaltimoreIf you or a loved one has suffered injury or death due to a radiological error, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, our experienced Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys can vigorously advocate for your rights every step of the way. We understand the serious impact that illness can have on an individual as well as the entire family, and we will handle your case with the utmost compassion and care. To set up a free consultation with an injury lawyer, call 410-889-1850 or contact us online.