The Concept of Error and Malpractice in Radiology

Since the early 1970s, physicians have been subjected to an increasing number of medical malpractice claims. Radiology is one of the specialties most liable to claims of medical negligence. The etiology of radiological error is multifactorial. Errors fall into recurrent patterns. Errors arise from poor technique, failures of perception, lack of knowledge, and misjudgments. Every radiologist should understand the sources of error in diagnostic radiology as well as the elements of negligence that form the basis of malpractice litigation. Errors are an inevitable part of human life, and every health professional has made mistakes. To improve patient safety and reduce the risk from harm, we must accept that some errors are inevitable during the delivery of health care. We must play a cultural change in medicine, wherein errors are actively sought, openly discussed, and aggressively addressed. Semin Ultrasound CT MRI 33:275-279 (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.