RADIOLOGIST'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW-UP : MARYLAND MED. MAL REPORT

www.charlesjeromeware.com.  "Here to make a difference."

Charles Jerome Ware, Attorneys & Counselors, is a Maryland-based national plaintiff's wrongful death and medical malpractice law firm. The firm is highly-regarded and nationally-respected for its success in wrongful death and medical malpractice actions in both Maryland and Washington, D.C.

For an initial courtesy consultation, contact uus at charlesjeromeware@msn.com,  (410) 730-5016   or   (410) 720-6129.

             WRONGFUL DEATH RESULT OF RADIOLOGIST'S FAILURE
                                     TO   FOLLOW - UP


The now-deceased plaintiff was a 54-year old male experiencing shortness of breath, cough, .fever and chills. His attending physician  ordered chest x-rays for him and  left his office that same Friday
afternoon before the x-rays were read by the defendant radiologist.

The radiologist interpreted the x-rays at 5:10 pm  that same afternoon as follows : "  There is vascular
congestion and perihilar infiltrates.  Cardiomegaly with congestive changes underlying infiltrate/pneumonia cannot be excluded."

The patient died on that following Sunday in his home of bilateral pneumonia with cardiomegaly.

RADIOLOGY EXPERTS' OPINIONS : 
  ---- Since it was late Friday afternoon and the radiologist's transcribed report would probably not
be available until later, the radiologist probably had a duty to call the referring physician if he or she thought pneumonia was a consideration. This opinion is supported by the American Board of Radiology Practical Guidelines for Communication.
-----  The 'standard of care' requires that the radiologist contact the referring physician or a responsible health care provider if there is  probable pneumonia. If someone cannot be reached then the 'standard' would require patient notification.

[http://www.medquestltd.com/radiologists-failure-to-follow-up-leads-to-death]