Personal Injury Law

Risks of Diagnostic Imaging Should Be Taken Seriously

By Steven M. Levin and John J. Perconti

Virtually all patients will undergo some sort of diagnostic imaging during their hospital stays?these tests involve x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans.

A new story by ABC News reminds patients that while these tests are common-place, it is important for patients to remember that dangers associated with these procedures. In fact, the story explains that it is also important for medical professionals themselves to remember the seriousness of these exams.

The importance of these tests cannot be understated, as they are used to help doctors determine exactly what medical problems a patient may be experiencing. Their value unfortunately also means that they are ripe for costly errors. Experts in the field explain that medical problems stemming from x-rays , MRIs, and other imaging comes from communication breakdown between professionals and errors by doctors rather than problems with the scans themselves. For example, there are countless examples of diagnoses that are missed because of misread medical images.

Also, at times there remains a disconnect between a referring doctor and the radiologist trained to review the results of these exams. When this happens, results are often not reviewed in a timely manner, and in the worst case, the patient never learns about severe medical problems from which they suffer.

Our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys at Levin & Perconti understand the importance of medical tests. It is vital for all patients to ensure that they receive these exams in a timely and safe way. At the same time, it is vital for all medical professionals to use these exams in a proper way and interpret the results in a professional, expert manner. Too often problems in the use and review of the test results lead to additional pain, suffering, and even death to the victims. If you are someone you know may have been affected by this type of medical error, please contact a medical malpractice lawyer to learn about your legal rights.

Please Click Here to read more about the important medical issues related to medical image testing.

Full post as published by Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog on October 17, 2010 (boomark / email).