Page 18 - Diagnostic Radiology - Interpreting the Risks Part One

SVMIC Diagnostic Radiology: Interpreting the Risks

than for radiology because in no other area of medicine are the

factors of communication and documentation so intertwined —
the radiology report serves as both the primary documentation

and, typically, the primary communication.

Communication Issues

As cited by nationally recognized expert Leonard M. Berlin, MD,
“Communications of a diagnosis so that it may be beneficially

utilized may be altogether as important as the diagnosis
itself.” On a national level, the failure to timely and directly
4
communicate radiologic test results is a common cause of
malpractice claims.

Our internal analysis revealed that 17 percent of the claims paid

fall into this category. In several cases, the radiologist failed
to inform the surgeon or emergency medicine physician of a

significant finding on an amended report. For example, a pelvic
ultrasound was read initially as normal by the radiologist but

was amended three hours later to include a large staghorn
calculus. No phone call was made to the treating physician, who

failed to see the amended report during follow-up visits. The
patient eventually required a nephrectomy. Inadequate consent

was also alleged in a number of cases, where either the patient
was not provided with sufficient information about the risks

or alternatives of an interventional procedure, or when such
information was provided after the patient had received pre-

procedure anesthesia or was under the effects of sedation from
a prior procedure.

4 Failure of Radiologic Communication: An Increasing Cause of Malpractice Litigation and Harm to
Patients, Applied Radiology, Leonard M. Berlin, M.D. FACR, February 8, 2010.

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