Radiology Malpractice in New York

The clinical specialty of radiology is based on the technology of making medical images using radiation or some other form of radiant energy. Approximately 350 million radiographic procedures are performed annually in the U.S. More than half of these are not done in hospitals, but in the offices of private physicians, and most of those are not interpreted by trained radiologists. The use of x-rays, CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), mamograms and other types of radiographs are quite common. The chest x-ray, for example, is a widely used general diagnostic tool, accounting for about one half of all medical images taken, or about 175 million per year.

Errors in reading x-rays, MRIs and CT scans are a very common form of medical malpractice. These errors can sometimes be more harmful than medication errors. A radiologist's review is crucial to the patient's treatment and oftentimes the radiology diagnosis serves as the basis for the patient's treatment course. When this is not performed correctly, serious injury can occur.

Malpractice can also occur when inappropriately high dosages of radiation are administered. Last year, the New York Times reported the story of one New York hospital where a newborn infant had been irradiated from head to toe even though only a simple chest X-ray had been ordered. Technicians had given the same baby about 10 of these whole-body X-rays. It was also found that full-body X-rays of premature babies had occurred often, that radiation levels on powerful CT scanners had been set too high for infants, and that babies had been poorly positioned, making it hard for doctors to interpret the images.

And these types of situations are not limited to infants. There have been reports of numerous incidents involving the administering of excessive dosages of radiation to adult stroke and cancer patients who underwent CT scans.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to the failure to properly administer or read an x-ray, CT scan or another radiological image or technology, or due to any other negligence involving radiology, you need to talk to an experienced medical malpractice attorney. At the Law Offices of Sam Rosmarin, a skilled New York medical malpractice attorney can meet with you for a free consultation to review the facts of your case, inform you of your rights, and advise you of your best options. If medical malpractice was a factor in your injury, you can trust your claim will be aggressively prosecuted for maximum compensation. Although no amount of compensation may be enough to make up for the damage caused, it can provide you with the financial resources you need to provide for needed treatment and medical care both now and in the future.

Interested in scheduling a free consultation to discuss your claim? Please contact a New York medical malpractice lawyerat the Law Offices of Sam Rosmarin today!