Radiology Errors Lawyer in Massachusetts

Radiology Errors and Medical Malpractice

Radiologists bear professional responsibility for the accurate interpretation of imaging studies, X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and PET scans, that are central to diagnosing cancer, fractures, vascular abnormalities, organ pathology, and many other conditions. A radiology error, whether a missed finding, a misinterpreted finding, or a failure to communicate a critical finding promptly, can allow serious conditions to go undetected and untreated. Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey represents patients harmed by radiology errors throughout Massachusetts.

Common Radiology Errors That Cause Harm

• Missed lung nodules that represent early-stage lung cancer on chest X-ray or CT
• Missed breast lesions on mammogram that meet criteria for biopsy
• Missed spinal abnormalities including fractures and disc herniations on MRI
• Missed pulmonary emboli on CT pulmonary angiogram
• Misinterpretation of bone lesions as benign when they represent malignancy
• Failure to report critical findings: such as pneumothorax or aortic dissection: to the ordering physician promptly
• Failure to recommend follow-up imaging when uncertain findings warrant it

The Radiologist’s Standard of Care

Radiologists are specialist physicians who are expected to identify findings that would be recognizable to a competent radiologist with the training appropriate for their specialty. The standard of care requires that findings be reported accurately, completely, and in a manner that communicates the clinical significance of identified pathology to the ordering physician. A radiologist who misses a finding that a competent peer would have identified, or who fails to communicate the urgency of a critical finding, may be departing from the applicable standard of care.

The Treating Physician’s Responsibility

When a radiologist correctly identifies a finding but the ordering physician fails to act on the radiology report, the treating physician may share or bear primary responsibility for the resulting harm. The standard of care requires that ordering physicians review radiology reports and act appropriately on findings. Conversely, if the radiologist incorrectly characterized a finding as benign and the ordering physician reasonably relied on that report, the radiologist may bear the greater portion of responsibility. Attorney Lavey evaluates the conduct of both the radiologist and the ordering physician in every radiology error case.

Compensation for Radiology Error Victims

Compensation in radiology error cases covers the additional treatment required because the condition was not detected at the earliest opportunity: more aggressive cancer treatment when the disease has advanced, more complex fracture management when healing has been compromised, emergency intervention for conditions that required urgent treatment that was delayed. All of these additional costs, along with lost wages and pain and suffering, are compensable from the responsible radiologist and treating providers. Attorney Lavey pursues every element of damages in every radiology error case.

Frequently Asked Questions