What Radiologists Need To Know About Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

CHICAGO - Thirty-one percent of radiologists in a 2013 study published in Radiology had at least one malpractice claim in their career. At RSNA 2014, Kelly Yousem, a 25-year veteran attorney doing plaintiff’s medical malpractice, educated radiologists about the medical malpractice process.Medical malpractice cases, also known as professional negligence, are civil suits that belong to a class called “torts,” which is defined as a breach of contract or trust that has given rise to a case that has damages. Check out the slideshow for an overview of what radiologists need to know about medical malpractice. And although being named in a medical malpractice suit can be threatening, Yousem encouraged radiologists to let the legal process work.“It’s not perfect,” she said. “But it’s the best system we’ve got and it actually works pretty well. Understand your rights as a defendant and as a physician.”