Radiology is an essential tool in modern medicine. X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs help doctors correctly diagnose injuries and diseases, revealing the presence of fractures, tumors, infections, dislocations, and many other medical conditions. However, radiology errors can cause patients to suffer serious harm, often leading to medical malpractice claims.
What Does Radiology Do for Patients?
Radiology is the medical specialty of using imaging technology, including X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, to diagnose medical conditions. Doctors use radiology to:
- Identify injuries such as fractures, muscle strains, ruptured tendons, and soft tissue damage
- Reveal the presence of tumors, arthritis, osteoporosis, pneumonia, and other infections
- Track the effectiveness of cancer treatment
Several different imaging devices are used in radiology, allowing your healthcare providers to get a close look at your bones, soft tissue, internal organs, and blood vessels. When correctly used, radiology allows your healthcare provider to diagnose many different medical conditions in time to provide appropriate intervention.
Common Radiology Errors
Common radiology errors can include:
- Misinterpretation of scans by a radiologist, leading to delayed diagnosis or missed diagnosis of a tumor or injury
- Miscommunication between radiologists and other members of the care team
- Technical errors resulting in poor image quality and inaccurate interpretation
- Delayed diagnosis of cancer, internal bleeding, or other time-sensitive medical conditions
- Treatment for the wrong condition
- Lack of necessary treatment
Potential Consequences of Radiology Errors
Radiology errors can have serious consequences for patients, including:
- Incorrect or unnecessary medical interventions
- Anxiety and emotional distress for the patient and their loved ones
- Delay in receiving needed treatments
- Medical complications, poor outcomes, or even death
Medical Malpractice Claims
If you or a loved one has suffered harm due to a radiology error in New Mexico, you may be entitled to file a medical malpractice claim under the New Mexico Medical Professional Liability Act. This act allows you to file a claim against a medical provider for:
- Negligent medical treatment
- Lack of treatment
- Negligent hiring, training, credentialing, or supervision
To make a medical malpractice claim, you must show that your healthcare provider departed from the accepted standard of care in a way that caused you injury.
Proving a Medical Malpractice Claim
To prove a medical malpractice claim against your radiologist, you must demonstrate that the radiologist caused you an injury by failing to meet the accepted standard of care for their profession. The evidence your lawyer will need to gather can include:
- Imaging reports, medical notes, and any other relevant medical records
- Testimony from a radiologist with the same specialty as the radiologist who treated you
- Your expert witness must testify that your radiologist violated the standard of care for your treatment and that their negligence caused you an injury
- Statements from nurses or other eyewitnesses
Compensation You Can Receive
What kind of compensation can you receive for a medical malpractice claim? In New Mexico, you can ask for money for losses such as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
If your losses in the case exceed the radiologist’s insurance coverage, the New Mexico Patient Compensation Fund may be able to cover the difference. It’s a good idea to hire an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you pursue maximum compensation.
Contact a New Mexico Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
Don’t wait to contact a New Mexico medical malpractice attorney from Hunt Law Firm. Under the New Mexico statute of limitations, you must file a medical malpractice lawsuit within three years of the date of the harm, or the court will dismiss your case. Contact Hunt Law Firm in Santa Fe, New Mexico, today for help with your medical malpractice case.