A report from the New Jersey Medical School has found that 31 percent of radiologists face at least one medical malpractice claim during their careers and the majority of claims are diagnostic error claims. According to the report, the following were the most common missed diagnoses:
- Breast cancer
- Nonspinal fracture
- Spinal fractures
- Lung cancer
- Vascular disease
While some of the claims were not successful, many of them were the result of significant errors. Just like all medical malpractice claims, however, there are certain things that a plaintiff must prove in order to show that a radiologist has failed to diagnose, misdiagnosed or delayed the diagnosis of an illness or injury.
For example, in a cancer misdiagnosis case, a plaintiff must be able to show that the acceleration of cancer could have been prevented if not for the radiologist’s error. In most cancer misdiagnosis cases, there will be multiple medical experts and some will have conflicting testimony. Yet, with the right information, it is possible to meet the “burden of proof” and recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of income and other noneconomic and economic damages.
New Jersey was among the states with the highest number of medical malpractice suits against radiologists. If you have been the victim of medical misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose in New Jersey, you may be able to hold your radiologist accountable for the pain you have suffered as a result of his or her negligence.
Learn more by visiting our web page on New Jersey cancer misdiagnosis.
Source: Diagnostic Imaging, “Diagnosis error most common radiology malpractice claim,” Marijke Vroomen Durning, Dec. 11, 2012
