Radiological Errors and Misdiagnosis
Advanced imaging technologies, such as MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans, can help doctors more readily and accurately diagnose patients’ conditions. These valuable tools can help pinpoint injuries, detect disease, inform treatment plans, and save lives. However, radiology errors also have significant potential for catastrophic consequences. An incorrect interpretation can lead to misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, and inappropriate treatments.
When a radiological error or misdiagnosis causes you to suffer adverse health outcomes, you may be entitled to compensation. The team at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. is dedicated to seeking justice on behalf of victims of these critical errors and holding all responsible parties accountable. Call us today to learn more about your radiology malpractice case.
What Counts as a Misdiagnosis in Radiology?
A radiology misdiagnosis occurs when a radiologist or other healthcare professional misinterprets medical imaging, resulting in a missed or incorrect diagnosis. While these medical errors can result in a total failure to identify a health issue, there are other instances where the issue is identified, yet the location, severity, or nature of it is misunderstood or otherwise mischaracterized.
Some common examples of a radiology misdiagnosis include:
Missed Diagnosis
Diagnostic errors related to radiology can occur when a radiologist or other healthcare professional fails to identify an abnormality present in the imaging, such as a fracture, infection, internal bleeding, or a cancerous growth. With a missed diagnosis, the medical issue often goes untreated until symptoms worsen and the patient seeks further medical attention, and possibly other diagnostic radiology.
Delayed Diagnosis
With these radiological errors, the imaging is initially misinterpreted, but eventually, the abnormality is identified, and the patient receives an accurate diagnosis. However, while the issue is ultimately identified, the delayed diagnosis can have severe consequences, particularly for conditions like aggressive cancers, where early intervention is critical.
Incorrect Diagnosis
With these errors, the radiologist or healthcare professional identifies an abnormality on the scan but misinterprets what it is, resulting in an inaccurate diagnosis. If the radiologist missed the significance of what was on the MRI scan or other imaging test, this could result in ineffective or even harmful treatment plans, including unnecessary surgeries or medication regimens. Sometimes, a malignant abnormality may be interpreted as benign, resulting in delayed treatment of a severe condition.
Technical Errors
Sometimes, errors in the way the images are taken can result in misdiagnosis. For example, blurry images, incomplete scans, and incorrect angles can lead the radiologist to misinterpret the images or potentially obscure crucial details, leaving the radiologist with no way of accurately identifying the issue.
Reporting Errors
Even when the interpretation is correct, errors in the final report can lead to a misdiagnosis. For example, unclear or vague language in the report can lead to a misunderstanding or underestimation of the condition and its severity. Incorrect patient information can lead to the treatment of the wrong condition or person.
Consequences of Radiological Errors
Radiological errors can have life-altering or even deadly consequences. They may lead to extended, unnecessary physical suffering, mental anguish, tremendous financial distress, and potentially permanent disability or death.
Some of the most notable consequences of radiological errors include:
Delayed or Missed Treatment
If the radiology department or healthcare professional charged with interpreting your scans misses or misinterprets an abnormality, you may receive incorrect treatment, ineffective treatment, or no treatment at all. This can allow the condition to progress, causing you more discomfort and potentially missing your window for effective, life-saving treatment.
Worsening of Condition
For many conditions, time is of the essence. A delay in diagnosis due to a radiologic malpractice allows the condition to worsen, meaning a disease like cancer might metastasize or an injury might progress and become more serious. Treatment after the condition has worsened can be more invasive, complex, and potentially less effective.
Unnecessary Procedures
Incorrect imaging findings can lead your healthcare providers to recommend improper medical care when planning your treatment. This might result in you taking unnecessary medications or undergoing needless procedures that can be painful, complicated, and costly.
Increased Pain and Suffering
Whether medical professionals incorrectly diagnosed you or failed to diagnose you at all, you will likely endure more pain and suffering than you would have had you been accurately diagnosed to begin with. Enduring a condition without proper treatment can mean prolonged pain, discomfort, and emotional distress.
Financial Distress
Medical bills can become overwhelming when you have a condition requiring advanced imaging technology, even with medical insurance. Misdiagnosis can mean spending excessive amounts of money on treatments you do not need and then spending even more on more complex treatments you could potentially have avoided with an early, accurate diagnosis.
Permanent Disability or Death
When serious conditions go unchecked, the consequences can be devastating. Whether an injury is allowed to worsen until it becomes permanently disabling or a disease is allowed to progress until it becomes fatal, the most severe outcomes of radiological errors are often unthinkable tragedies.
Proving Radiology Misdiagnosis
Establishing liability in a radiology misdiagnosis claim can be a complex and challenging process. It requires a substantial body of convincing evidence, which might include:
- Medical Images: The X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans that led to the misdiagnosis are, by far, the most critical piece of evidence. Our medical experts can examine these images and any subsequent ones to pinpoint the source of the misdiagnosis.
- Radiology Reports: The reports created after reviewing your images are also essential pieces of evidence. They offer proof of the healthcare professional’s initial interpretation or misinterpretation of the imaging.
- Expert Opinions: We consult with medical experts who can offer their opinions on the standard of care, identify any errors made in the misdiagnosis, and provide testimony connecting the misdiagnosis to the physical, emotional, and financial distress you have endured.
- Medical and Financial Documents: To demonstrate the financial impact of the responsible party’s negligence on you, we gather all relevant medical bills, receipts, evidence of lost wages, and other critical financial documents related to the misdiagnosis.
Our Chicago-based law firm can evaluate your situation, review the radiologist’s report, and explain if you have legal grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Hire a Skilled Radiology Misdiagnosis Attorney
If you have suffered due to a radiological error or misdiagnosis, you need a personal injury attorney to protect your rights. The experienced radiology misdiagnosis attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. can guide you through this complex legal process and aggressively advocate for the accountability and fair compensation you deserve. We’ve secured more than $2.5 billion for our clients, including over 350 cases that yielded recoveries of $1 million or more. We can leverage our extensive experience in handling complex medical malpractice claims to benefit your case. Contact us today for your free consultation.
