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Radiology Error

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Radiology Error Lawyers in Louisville, KY

Medical professionals utilize radiology equipment for more precise diagnosis of patient health problems. Devices like MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds can provide doctors with many more ways to identify diseases and conditions in the earliest stages, and in the best-case scenario, before they become life-threatening to the patient. While radiology diagnostics can save lives, radiology errors can cost them.

Failure to properly diagnose a patient, or when a physician misdiagnoses a patient, as a result of a radiology error, can cause a patient catastrophic injuries. The medical malpractice attorneys at Wilt Injury Lawyers want to help. Our years of experience, extensive network of resources, and expert witnesses make us the right choice when you need strong legal advocates. We are ready to help with even the most complex malpractice case. Contact us in Lexington or Louisville today.

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What is Radiology?

The medical field of radiology encompasses a wide variety of diagnostic imaging tests. The American College of Radiology describes a radiologist’s job:

Radiologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases using medical imaging (radiology) procedures (exams/tests) such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET), and ultrasound.

Radiologists complete at least 13 years of training, including medical school, a four-year residency, and most often, an additional one—or two-year fellowship of very specialized training, such as radiation oncology, pediatric radiology, or interventional radiology. They are certified by the American Board of Radiology and have exacting requirements for continuing medical education throughout their practicing years.

When radiology is utilized properly, physicians can better pinpoint health problems in the body. However, when doctors and radiologists make mistakes, a patient’s condition can worsen or become life-threatening.

What are the Most Common Radiology Errors?

When radiology and diagnostic errors occur, they repeatedly tend to be the same types of mistakes. A 2021 study in Insights into Imaging reviewed common radiological errors to provide greater understanding and clarity for patient management. Their data revealed the following 12 most frequent errors:

  1. False positive. Results are given more importance than needed, and patients may receive unnecessary and damaging medical treatment.
  2. Faulty reasoning. This is when a radiologist detects abnormal results due to faulty reasoning or cognitive bias.
  3. Lack of knowledge. When an issue exists but is misinterpreted due to a lack of knowledge or inexperience on the part of the radiologist.
  4. Under-reading. The study notes that this is the most common radiology error, when a radiologist fails to notice an obvious abnormality.
  5. Communication error. This occurs when a radiologist accurately reads and reports an abnormal finding, but the report is not delivered to the physician or clinician because of a communication error.
  6. Technique error. These include errors made due to bad quality, mistakes during the imaging process, or “selection of the wrong technique or modality, resulting in a decreased possibility of detecting abnormal findings and sometimes making diagnosis impossible.”
  7. Prior exam-related error. When radiologists skip the “comparison with previous exam” step, which the report calls “indispensable,” they risk making errors in their findings.
  8. History-related error. If a radiologist is not provided with a patient’s complete medical history, they can make inaccurate diagnoses based on faulty information.
  9. Location-related error. These errors happen when the radiologist fails to find the abnormality, as it falls outside the “purposefully examined area, especially at the edges of the evaluated area.”
  10. Satisfaction of search. Radiologists may overlook other areas of pathology after finding one abnormality, leading to an under-reading.
  11. Complications. These include any adverse events that occur as a result of radiology procedures.
  12. Satisfaction with the report. This means a radiologist has confidence in a patient’s previous reports, meaning that any mistakes made will continue to be repeated.

If you or a loved one suffered harm from a radiology error, our Kentucky medical malpractice attorneys can help investigate why it happened and who should be held liable.

Result of Radiology Errors

The consequences of a radiology error can be catastrophic. A life-threatening condition can worsen, or a patient may be forced to undergo grueling treatment for an illness they don’t even have. Injuries and complications from radiology malpractice include:

  • Receiving a delayed or misdiagnosis for their condition
  • Developing a permanent disability or injury
  • Receiving the wrong treatment for their condition
  • Developing conditions like cancer, stroke, heart attack, bowel obstruction, or aneurysm
  • Wrongful death

These types of injuries can alter the course of your life, necessitating financial compensation to cover medical expenses and pain and suffering. Wilt Injury Lawyers can help.

Suing a Radiologist for Malpractice

Yes, if your claim meets the elements of medical malpractice. Our attorneys can explain this to you in more detail, but for a successful radiology error malpractice claim, you must show the following elements:

  • First, a doctor-patient relationship must have existed. This means you and your radiologist had a working and professional relationship.
  • The doctor violated the standard of care accepted in the medical community. This means they failed to act as a competent radiologist would in the same or similar circumstances.
  • That violation of care caused your injuries. By failing to adhere to the proper medical standard of care, the radiologist caused you harm.
  • Lastly, those injuries caused you damage. These damages can include your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other expenses related to your injuries.

The Kentucky lawyers at Wilt Injury Lawyers work to maximize your compensation and ensure the liable parties are held accountable for your injuries and harm.

Determining the Value of Your Claim

Radiology errors can cause illnesses to become worse, allow a condition to progress unknown and untreated, or even cause an injury. The attorneys at Wilt Injury Lawyers identify all liable parties involved in causing your injury or condition and work to secure the compensation to which you are entitled. This can include:

  • Medical bills
  • Wage loss
  • Rehabilitation services and equipment
  • Miscellaneous expenses related to your injuries
  • Pain and suffering

Feel free to schedule a personal consultation to discuss the specifics of your case.

Do you have a radiology error attorney near me?

Wilt Injury Lawyers has offices in Louisville and Lexington:

Louisville Office

13113 Eastpoint Park Blvd. Suite A Louisville, KY 40223
Phone: 502-253-9110

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Lexington Office

196 W. Lowry Lane, Suite 1 Lexington, KY 40503
Phone: 859-263-8818

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