Misread X-Ray

An x-ray is an imaging test that allows physicians to diagnose health issues. X-rays are only as effective, however, as the professionals who interpret their results. If a radiologist or physician misreads an x-ray, CT scan or MRI, the patient can suffer adverse health outcomes due to diagnostic errors. The injured patient may then have grounds to file a medical malpractice claim against the at-fault radiologist or physician in Texas.

What Are the Dangers of a Misread X-Ray?

Emergency rooms, surgical centers and doctor’s offices used x-ray and ultrasound technology to obtain a clear picture of what is happening inside of the body. X-ray technology allows physicians to find and diagnose injuries and diseases below the external surface of the skin. X-rays and other types of imaging tests are used to diagnose issues such as broken bones, internal bleeding and traumatic brain injuries.

The practitioner in charge of interpreting x-ray images (the radiologist) must abide by medical industry standards of care and best practices when analyzing the results of a scan. Any lapse in adhering to the proper protocol could lead to preventable mistakes, such as a misread x-ray and related diagnostic errors. Three common examples are:

1. Misdiagnosis. A misread x-ray could lead to misdiagnosis if the radiologist or lab technician misinterprets the images and mistakes one condition for another.
2. Delayed diagnosis. A misread x-ray could lead to a doctor missing the signs of a health problem in its initial stages, delaying a diagnosis and medical care in a way that could hurt the patient’s prognosis for recovery.
3. Failure to diagnose. Issues with x-ray interpretation could also lead to a physician missing a diagnosis completely, leading to no diagnosis and no medical care to treat the patient’s condition.

Diagnostic errors due to misreading x-rays can prevent patients from obtaining the critical medical care and treatments necessary to recover. Patients who encounter misread x-rays and other imaging test misinterpretations can suffer worsened health outcomes, delayed medical care and a failure to treat. When a misread x-ray causes patient injury, harm or death, the medical professional that made the preventable error may be liable (legally responsible).

When Is a Misread X-Ray Medical Malpractice?

Humans make mistakes. Not every misread x-ray or another type of medical error constitutes the civil tort of medical malpractice. To have grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit in Texas, an injured party must have evidence that the defendant owed him or her a duty of care (a patient-doctor relationship must have existed), breached this duty of care, and caused the injuries or losses in question.

A duty of care is a legal and ethical obligation to act toward someone else in the same manner that an ordinarily prudent person would in the same or similar circumstances. Physicians, radiologists and other health care practitioners are held to high standards of patient care within the medical industry. Any violation of these standards, resulting in patient harm or death, can give the victim grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.

If a radiologist was careless or negligent, and this led to a misread x-ray and injuries, the practitioner could be liable for the victim’s related losses. If another practitioner in the same circumstances would have been able to properly read the x-ray and diagnose the condition, preventing the patient’s losses, the party in question will bear liability for incorrectly interpreting the information.

Do You Have a Case?

Every year, injured patients bring lawsuits against radiologists and other health care providers for misread x-rays and related injuries. If you believe an imaging company, radiologist, physician or someone else made a careless error during your care and this negatively impacted your health, consult with an attorney in Houston right away.

An attorney can listen to your story, ask questions and investigate your medical experience to determine whether or not you have grounds for medical malpractice claim for a misread x-ray. If so, the law may entitle you and your family to financial compensation for your past and future losses. A lawyer can help you fight for justice and hold someone accountable for a misread x-ray.