Radiology is a branch of medicine used to diagnose and treat injuries and diseases through the use of medical imaging procedures, including:
- X-rays
- Computed tomography (CT) scans
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Nuclear medicine
- Positron emission tomography (PET)
- Ultrasound
Radiology errors are often split into two broad categories, including:
- Perceptual errors
- Cognitive (interpretive) errors
Perceptual errors occur much more frequently than cognitive errors and account for 60-80% of all radiology errors. These types of errors happen when the initial detection phase of image interpretation occurs.
Read on for a list of three of the most common errors made in radiology.
#1 - The radiologist misses a finding.
Also referred to as an underreading, this type of error occurs when a finding is present on the image, but is missed by the radiologist. This type of mistake occurs 42% of the time.
#2 - The radiologist fails to continue searching for more abnormalities after locating one.
This kind of mistake occurs when a finding is not discovered as a result of a failure to keep searching for more abnormalities once the first one is identified. Errors of this nature occur 22% of the time.
#3 - Faulty reasoning.
Also referred to as a true-positive finding misclassified, the faulty reasoning error occurs when a particular finding is appreciated and interpreted as abnormal but is linked to an incorrect cause. These kinds of mistakes tend to happen about 9% of the time.
We’re Here for Injured Victims
If you’ve been hurt as a result of a radiology error, you may be owed compensation for your injuries as well as pain and suffering. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our skilled team right away for more information.
If a medical professional caused your injuries and you need help with a medical malpractice lawsuit, contact the skilled attorneys at Berthold Law Firm, PLLC with the details of your case by calling (304) 605-2040 or by filling out our online contact form.