Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Department of Orthopaedics, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
J Am Coll Radiol. 2019 May;16(5):764-769. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2018.10.022. Epub 2018 Dec 22.
Radiologists are increasingly the subject of costly medical malpractice claims. As the field continues to expand to include numerous minimally invasive procedures and diagnostic studies, radiologists are more exposed than ever to medical malpractice. Despite this, little is known on the outcomes of these litigations.
A retrospective investigation of the VerdictSearch legal claims database was performed, examining litigations involving radiologists' interpretation of neuro-imaging and neurological procedures performed by radiologists (including interventional radiologists and diagnostic neuroradiologists). Allegations, outcomes, and payouts were examined.
In total, 126 cases were analyzed. Mean age of plaintiffs was 45 ± 18.8 years; 64 (50.8%) plaintiffs were men. Fifty-two (41%) cases listed irreversible brain damage as a complication. Paralysis and death were listed in 40 (32%) and 34 (27%) cases, respectively. In total, 44% (55) resulted in a defendant ruling, 25% (25) in a plaintiff ruling, 26% (33) in a settlement, and 5% (7) in a mixed decision. Total liabilities of the 126 cases were $390,329,929, with individual awards ranging from $50,000 to $45,000,000. Median plaintiff award was $2,877,847 (interquartile range: $1,250,000-$6,412,159; mean: $8,446,547 ± $13,036,244). Median settlement amount was $1,950,000 (interquartile range: $934,250-$3,625,000; mean: $2,455,250 ± $1,951,549).
This study is the first examination of legal claims involving neuroradiology. Over 50% of claims against radiologists end in provider loss, which is both financially costly and detrimental to physicians, practices, and institutions. This information may inform physicians regarding common diagnostic and interventional errors, and potentially minimize medicolegal risk.
放射科医生越来越成为昂贵医疗事故索赔的对象。随着该领域不断扩展，包括众多微创程序和诊断研究，放射科医生比以往任何时候都更容易受到医疗事故的影响。尽管如此，对于这些诉讼的结果却知之甚少。
对 VerdictSearch 法律索赔数据库进行了回顾性调查，检查了涉及放射科医生对神经影像学和放射科医生（包括介入放射科医生和诊断神经放射科医生）进行的神经程序的解释的诉讼。审查了指控、结果和赔偿。
总共分析了 126 例。原告的平均年龄为 45 ± 18.8 岁；64 名（50.8%）原告为男性。52 例（41%）病例将不可逆性脑损伤列为并发症。40 例（32%）和 34 例（27%）分别列出瘫痪和死亡。总共，44%（55 例）的判决结果为被告胜诉，25%（25 例）的判决结果为原告胜诉，26%（33 例）的判决结果为和解，5%（7 例）的判决结果为混合判决。这 126 起案件的总负债为 390,329,929 美元，个人赔偿金从 50,000 美元到 450,000,000 美元不等。原告赔偿中位数为 2,877,847 美元（四分位距：1,250,000-6,412,159 美元；平均值：8,446,547±13,036,244 美元）。和解金额中位数为 1,950,000 美元（四分位距：934,250-3,625,000 美元；平均值：2,455,250±1,951,549 美元）。
本研究首次检查了涉及神经放射学的法律索赔。超过 50%的针对放射科医生的索赔以提供者的损失告终，这既在经济上代价高昂，又对医生、实践和机构造成损害。这些信息可以让医生了解常见的诊断和介入性错误，并可能最大限度地降低医疗法律风险。
