Radiology Malpractice: The Demography of Medical Malpractice Regarding Radiology

Abstract

The specter of malpractice action remains a matter of concern for the specialty of radiology in general and for individual practitioners in particular. Allegations of breast disease misdiagnosis remain the most common cause of claims against all physicians in any specialty, with the radiologist often the only defendant. Other common initiators of malpractice suits include a variety of errors of diagnosis, defects in communication of findings, and procedural complications. The details on the frequency of suits and their distribution by state, gender, and age of radiologist have not been subject to extensive analysis involving a large cohort. Moreover, responses by radiologists often involve retrospective comments which have tended to emphasize the opinions of those who have at least once been sued or have been the subject of a claim that never becomes a formal tort action.