Abstract
In most aspects of clinical medicine, the role of imaging and image-guided intervention is increasing. There is an increasing impact of the initial assessment in many clinical scenarios and the subsequent follow-up, assessment of response to treatment, and surveillance. In evaluating breast disease, or potential breast disease, imaging has played a central role for decades and as it strongly features “in the frontline” there is a perception that breast imaging is a “high-risk” specialty relative to others with regard to medico-legal issues. Purushothaman et al. 1 Purushothaman H.N. Wilson R. Michell M.M. Medico-legal issues in breast imaging. Clin Radiol. 2012; 67: 638-642 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (6) Google Scholar provide an interesting overview of a 10 year period of medico-legal breast cases involving imaging in the UK. In this series, imaging personnel are deemed to be at fault and the cause of substandard care in 60% cases. In spite of this figure, however, a very small number of cases (2%) in the UK go to court, 2 Given-Wilson R. Medico-legal aspects of delay in breast cancer diagnosis. RAD Magazine. 2007; 33: 27-28 Google Scholar as in order for successful litigation resultant harm from the error must be proven. Purushothaman et al. 1 Purushothaman H.N. Wilson R. Michell M.M. Medico-legal issues in breast imaging. Clin Radiol. 2012; 67: 638-642 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (6) Google Scholar discuss the different categories of error that may occur in radiological evaluation of the breast and present ways in which many of the errors could be prevented, thus reducing risk of complaint and possible harm. Medico-legal issues in breast imagingClinical RadiologyVol. 67Issue 7PreviewTo identify medico-legal issues that occur in the diagnosis and radiological management of breast disease and to propose measures to reduce the risk of patient complaints and legal action in breast radiology and diagnosis. Full-Text PDF
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