Technology Gives More Options for Work, Opportunities for Error
Many people enjoy that telecommuting allows them to perform their work from home. People who do all their work on the computer, often think they ought to be allowed to work from home. This may be true for those who are programmers or writers or designers, but what about radiologists?
Modern digital x-rays have the advantage not only that they expose patients to less dangerous radiation, but that they can be stored, transmitted, and reviewed more easily than traditional x-ray films. However, in at least one case, the use of digital x-rays and remote workstations has led to a medical malpractice claim.
A 72-year-old woman who tripped over her comforter and hit her head went to the emergency room when the bump swelled excessively. The mother and her daughter waited for hours in the emergency room for help. Meanwhile, the woman's x-rays were sent to a radiologist working from home, using a laptop with a 12-inch screen, who said that there was apparently nothing wrong on the x-ray. The woman was then sent back home, where she lost consciousness and died within hours from bleeding on her brain.
The radiologist claims that he would have seen what appears to be a small bleed on the woman's brain if he had been looking at the x-ray at the hospital. But, because he was working at home, he missed it and a woman died.
The trend toward outsourcing radiology to independent operators is increasing. Some hospitals use it to ensure a radiologist is available at all times, while others depend on remote radiologists to review all their scan reports. The combination between increasing demand for radiologists and a decline in their numbers has led to a shortage of radiologists that has increased reliance on remote specialists. Unfortunately, this may also lead to an increased number of medical errors that lead to wrongful death.
If you have lost a loved one as a result of a remote radiologist's error, contact the experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Pomerantz, Perlberger, and Lewis, LLP today for a free initial consultation.
