Medical imaging, including X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds, is crucial in allowing healthcare providers to accurately diagnose and treat medical conditions. However, for the diagnosis to be reliable, the radiologist must know what to look for and how to interpret the results. Diagnostic errors could lead to an incorrect diagnosis that could allow a patient’s medical condition to go untreated, sometimes with disastrous results.

When errors occur during the medical imaging process, the consequences for the patient can be significant and far-reaching. Medical errors in radiology can lead to a delayed diagnosis or incorrect medical treatment that can have a severe and long-term effect on a patient’s life.

If you or a family member suffered a negative health outcome because of a radiology or diagnostic imaging error, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries and other losses. The medical malpractice attorneys at Robenalt Law can analyze your situation, answer your questions, and help you evaluate your options to move forward.

Contact our law office today to schedule a free and confidential appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.

What Are the Most Common Errors in Radiology?

Medical imaging plays a critical role in modern healthcare. These tests allow healthcare providers to correctly diagnose and treat a variety of medical conditions. When mistakes happen, the effect on a patient’s long-term health and well-being can be monumental.

Poor Image Quality

Poor-quality images are a common cause of radiology errors. Poor image quality can be caused by low image resolution, image artifacts (distortions in medical images caused by motion, medical hardware, or other factors), reduced contrast, and image noise, any of which can cause a radiologist to misread the image and lead to an incorrect diagnosis.

Lack of Support for Radiology Staff

Patients suffer when radiologists do not have the support they require. Poor communication, understaffing, lack of resources, outdated technology, and inadequate training can turn diagnostic imaging from a precise tool into a point of failure that can harm patients.

Transcription Errors

Transcription errors occur when there are mistakes in documenting or communicating radiology findings, either in the report itself or in how the information is communicated between medical providers. Key information could be omitted; an important word or patient name could be misspelled; voice recognition software might not understand a word or take it out of context; or dictated or handwritten notes might be transcribed incorrectly. Regardless of the cause, transcription errors compromise patient care, sometimes with serious consequences.

Poor Process Standardization

Lack of standard workflow, reporting, and communication practices creates confusion and inconsistency, increasing the likelihood of radiology mistakes. Radiologists and referring physicians may use different terms; technicians may use different or non-standard settings; or there may be a miscommunication regarding the urgency of the request. Lack of standardization increases the potential for errors in radiology that can harm patients.

Poorly Written or Confusing Exam Notes

Poorly written or confusing exam notes undermine communication between the treating physician and the radiologist. Exam notes, which are often found in imaging requests or clinical histories, guide the radiologist’s interpretation of the diagnostic images. The likelihood of errors increases when the notes are vague, unclear, or incorrect.

What Happens When There Are Diagnostic Errors in Radiology?

Diagnostic errors in radiology can negatively impact patient health. When radiologists miss or misinterpret medical images, patients can suffer incorrect diagnosis, receive improper treatment, or receive no treatment at all.

Is It Malpractice to Misread a Diagnostic Image?

Malpractice occurs when a medical professional breaches the standard of care for their profession and the patient suffers harm as a result. If you believe your doctor, radiologist, or other medical provider misdiagnosed or failed to diagnose your condition, Robenalt Law can help. Our medical malpractice attorneys can evaluate your situation to determine whether you have a claim for medical negligence.

Contact a Medical Malpractice Attorney at Robenalt Law Today

Robenalt Law has offices in Cleveland and Columbus, and handles medical malpractice claims throughout Ohio and nationwide.

Call our Cleveland office at (216) 223-7535 or our Columbus office at (614) 695-3800 or contact us online to schedule a free, confidential, no-obligation appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.