Kentucky Radiology Error Attorneys
Representing patients injured by radiology mistakes in Lexington & Louisville
Medical professionals utilize radiology equipment for more precise diagnosis of patient health problems. Devices like MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds can provide doctors with many more ways to identify diseases and conditions in the earliest stages, and in the best case scenario, before they become life-threatening to the patient. While radiology diagnostics can save lives, radiology errors can cost them.
Failure to properly diagnose a patient, or when a physician misdiagnoses a patient, as a result of a radiology error, can cause a patient catastrophic injuries. The Kentucky medical malpractice attorneys at Wilt Injury Lawyers, want to help. Our years of experience and extensive network of resources and expert witnesses makes us the right choice when you need strong legal advocates on your side. We are ready to help with even the most complex malpractice case. Contact us in Lexington or Louisville today.
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What is radiology?
The medical field of radiology encompasses a wide variety of diagnostic imaging tests. The American College of Radiology describes a radiologist’s job:
Radiologists are medical doctors that specialize in diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases using medical imaging (radiology) procedures (exams/tests) such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET) and ultrasound.
Radiologists complete at least 13 years of training, including medical school, a four-year residency, and most often, an additional one- or two-year fellowship of very specialized training, such as radiation oncology, pediatric radiology, or interventional radiology. They are certified by the American Board of Radiology, and they have exacting requirements for continuing medical education throughout their practicing years.
When radiology is utilized properly, physicians can better pinpoint health problems in the body. However, when doctors and radiologists make mistakes, a patient’s condition can worsen or become life-threatening.
What are the most common radiology errors?
When radiology and diagnostic errors occur, they tend to be the same types of mistakes over and over again. A 2021 study in Insights into Imaging reviewed common radiological errors in an effort to provide greater understanding and clarity for patient management. Their data revealed the following 12 most frequent errors:
- False positive. Results are given more importance than needed and patients may receive unnecessary and damaging medical treatment.
- Faulty reasoning. This is when a radiologist detects abnormal results due to faulty reasoning or cognitive bias.
- Lack of knowledge. When an issue exists but is interpreted incorrectly due to a lack of knowledge or inexperience on the part of the radiologist.
- Under-reading. The study notes this as the most common radiology error, which is when a radiologist fails to notice an obvious abnormality.
- Communication error. This occurs when a radiologist accurately reads and reports an abnormal finding, but the report is not delivered to the physician or clinician because of an error in communication.
- Technique error. These encompass errors made due to bad quality, mistakes during the imaging process, or “selection of the wrong technique or modality, resulting in a decreased possibility of detecting abnormal findings and sometimes makes diagnosis impossible.”
- Prior exam-related error. When radiologists skip the “comparison with previous exam” step, which the report calls “indispensable,” they run the risk of making errors in their findings.
- History-related error. If a radiologist is not provided with a patient’s complete medical history, they can make inaccurate diagnoses based on faulty information.
- Location-related error. These errors happen when the radiologist fails to find the abnormality, as it falls outside of the “purposefully examined area, especially at the edges of the evaluated area.”
- Satisfaction of search. Radiologists may overlook other areas of pathology after finding one abnormality, leading to an under-reading.
- Complications. These include any adverse events that occur as a result of radiology procedures.
- Satisfaction of report. This means a radiologist has confidence in a patient’s previous reports, meaning that any mistakes made in those reports will continue repeating.
If you or a loved one suffered harm due to a radiology error, our Kentucky medical malpractice attorneys can help investigate why it happened and who should be held liable.
What types of injuries result from Kentucky radiology errors?
The consequences of a radiology error can be catastrophic. A life-threatening condition can worsen, or a patient may be forced to undergo grueling treatment for an illness they don’t even have. Injuries and complications from radiology malpractice include:
- Receiving the wrong treatment for their condition
- Receiving a delayed or misdiagnosis for their condition
- Developing a permanent disability or injury
- Developing conditions like cancer, stroke, heart attack, bowel obstruction, or aneurysm
- Wrongful death
These types of injuries can alter the course of your life, necessitating financial compensation to cover medical expenses as well as pain and suffering. The lawyers at Wilt Injury Lawyers can help.
Can I sue a Kentucky radiologist for malpractice?
Yes, if your claim meets the elements of medical malpractice. Our attorneys can explain this to you in more detail, but for a successful radiology error malpractice claim, you must show the following elements:
- First, a doctor-patient relationship must have existed. This means you and your radiologist had a working and professional relationship.
- The doctor violated the standard of care accepted in the medical community. This means they failed to act in the way a competent radiologist would in the same or similar circumstances.
- That violation of care caused your injuries. By failing to adhere to the proper medical standard of care, the radiologist caused you harm.
- Lastly, those injuries caused you damages. These damages can include your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other expenses related to your injuries.
The Kentucky lawyers at Wilt Injury Lawyers work to maximize your compensation and ensure the liable parties are held accountable for your injuries and harm.
What is the value of my Kentucky radiology error claim?
Radiology errors can cause illnesses to become worse, allow a condition to progress unknown and untreated, or even cause an injury themselves. The attorneys at Wilt Injury Lawyers identify all liable parties involved in causing your injury or condition and work to secure the compensation to which you are entitled. This can include:
- Medical bills
- Wage loss
- Rehabilitation services and equipment
- Miscellaneous expenses related to your injuries
- Pain and suffering
Feel free to schedule a personal consultation to discuss the specifics of your case.
Do you have a radiology error attorney near me?
Wilt Injury Lawyers has offices in Louisville and Lexington:
If you are too injured or ill to travel to us, we can arrange a phone or video conference. We also make hospital visits when necessary.
Lexington & Louisville radiology error lawyers working for you
Medical malpractice cases can be complicated, and radiology error cases can be even more complex. The Kentucky radiology error attorneys at Wilt Injury Lawyers have the experience to handle these types of claims with the compassion and understanding you need. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, call 502-253-9110 or fill out our contact form today. We maintain offices in Lexington and Louisville, and proudly serve clients throughout Kentucky.