Florida Radiology Error Lawyer

Imaging tests are a critical step for a doctor to reach a proper diagnosis and to develop a proper treatment plan. Diagnostic tests such as X-ray’s, MRI’s, CT scans, and ultrasounds are performed in West Palm Beach hospitals, and hospitals throughout Florida, every day. These imaging tests can detect a variety of conditions in the earliest stages, such as cancer, broken bones, tumors, and internal bleeding. Contact a distinguished medical malpractice attorney to discuss the facts of your case. A West Palm Beach radiology error lawyer can review the facts and help you prepare a case for damages.

Radiologists are doctors who undergo specific training on how to read and interpret the results of these diagnostic tests, and doctors will rely on their skill and training to provide their patients with the proper care and treatment. However, if a radiologist fails to accurately interpret these test results, or if they fail to properly communicate these results with doctors, a person’s health may be at risk. Because diagnostic tests can often detect the earliest signs of disease, if a radiologist does not report any abnormalities, it may allow a condition to develop and progress, causing unnecessary injuries and pain.

Common Forms of Radiology Negligence

Radiologists will often work closely with a patient’s care team to analyze medical imaging tests including sonograms, ultrasounds X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging tests (MRI’s), computed tomography (CT) scans, and positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Without the skill and training of a radiologist, most doctors would not have an accurate understanding of what is going on inside of a patient’s body.

Communication errors are another frequent source of radiologist negligence claims in West Palm Beach. A communication error is a form of medical negligence wherein some important piece of information pertaining to a patient’s health is not articulated to the treating doctors. There can be communication errors between a doctor and a radiologist if the radiologist does not clearly relay all the information necessary to provide a patient with the comprehensive treatment.

What Role Does a Radiologist Play?

However, while radiologists can be an instrumental part of a patient’s medical team, they can also cause severe and even catastrophic injuries if they make a mistake or fail to communicate their findings. Radiologist negligence cases generally result from misinterpreting test results or communication errors.

A radiologist may misinterpret test results which in turn can cause other members of a patient’s medical team to make an improper diagnosis, fail to make a diagnosis altogether or delay in making a critical diagnosis. West Palm Beach radiology error lawyers have seen misdiagnosis’ caused by misinterpreting an abnormal test as normal, interpreting a normal test as indicating a medical condition. Additionally, a radiologist may misinterpret one medical condition for another. Some of the most common conditions associated with a radiologist misinterpreting diagnostic tests include breast cancer, lung cancer, spinal fractures, and vascular disease.

Contacting a Lawyer

Radiology mistakes lead to misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, delayed treatment, diminishment of quality of life, and even death. Health care providers that operate the imaging technology and read the results of these machines are supposed to be trained to look for and see any abnormalities in the results. If they miss an abnormality, causing an individual’s injury, delayed diagnosis and treatment, or even death, that patient could be compensated for their injuries or illness.

If you or a loved one suffered serious or permanent harm due to a radiology error, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim and may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. A West Palm Beach radiology error lawyer can help injured patients and their families to determine liability and ensure that their rights are protected.