Thanks to advancements in the medical field over the last few decades, radiology and other types of diagnostic imaging have made diagnoses easier and more precise than ever before. Health care professionals rely on MRIs and CAT scans to provide them with information that can identify an injury or disease and allow them to make an informed decision about treatment. Consulting doctors and patients ask radiologists, who perform and review these tests, to offer diagnoses.
But what happens when a radiologist makes a mistake? Medical malpractice can occur when a radiologist or an imaging provider, through a negligent act, causes an injury to a patient. Errors in diagnosis, treatment or care can all result in this kind of negligence. If there is potential for a medical malpractice claim, a patient must prove the following:
- The radiologist violated the standard of care;
- The injury was caused by the radiologist’s negligence; and
- The injury resulted in significant damages to the patient.
A frequent cause of medical malpractice suits against radiologists is error in diagnosis— more specifically, failure to diagnose, as opposed to a delay in diagnosis. The most frequently missed diagnoses include:
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Spinal fractures
- Vascular disease
If there is a failure to diagnose, a patient is at the risk of further injury or even death. When something as serious as cancer is missed, it can have devastating consequences. You can hold either the radiologist or the doctor liable for your injuries, depending on communication between the two health care professionals.
If you believe you were injured or hurt as the result of a radiologist’s errors, please contact our Indiana medical malpractice attorneys at Langer & Langer. We have over 100 years of combined legal experience and our team will fight tooth and nail to get you the compensation you need and deserve.
Call 219-246-4759 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.