In November a Radiologist reported from images obtained during a MRA w/contrast, that I had an aneurysm in my brain. Because of the unusual and common stroke history in my family (at young age), I sought a second opinion by a Neurosurgeon.
The Neurosurgeon ordered a CTA at a totally different hospital. The CTA was much more detailed and the Radiologist who read the CTA reported that I do NOT have an aneurysm.
I've since gone back to the Neurosurgeon and expressed my concern about the conflict. He told me it is a "very common mistake" for a Radiologist to report an aneurysm using images from a MRI or MRA when aneurysms of such a small size (mine was reported to be 2-3mm) cannot be positively detected. Most patients just walk away happy they don't have an aneurysm. I am happy like that, but I'm not the type to let this go unnoticed.
I shelled out $ 600 bucks for the CTA and spent nearly 5 months worrying myself and my family that a stroke was right around the corner. This increased stress and the migraines I already get badly.
The Neurosurgeon has ordered a final and most detailed scan - the 4 vessel angiogram - which will say for SURE whether or not I have an aneurysm.
IF I DON'T - I think the mistake should be brought to the attention of the hospital administrator where the mistake was made. I also feel I should be reimbursed (not necessarily compensated for suffering) my $ 600 for the CTA and I think my insurance company and Medicare should be reimbursed for the cost of the MRA.
According to my insurance statements, the medical claims amounted to over $ 7,000 for the MRA. I only paid the majority of my deductible (about $ 597.)
Would you agree? Would you do it without an attorney since this is medical malpractice, but a very minor form of malpractice?
I just wonder if this radiologist has ever failed to report something and it cause injury or death to a patient. I was lucky and it wa the other way around for me.
I really need the reasons behind your answers please. Thank you.
Kimberly H, thank you very much. While your answer is very true in most cases, there is also the very tiny technicality that his/her exact words were that an aneurysm "is" present, not that an aneurysm "is believed to be" present. I feel there is a great difference in the wording he/she used in the report, no?
Is this not similar to a patient being told they have cancer and will soon die, but just before their "time" is up, a second opinion finds that the initial diagnosis was a mistake or lab error? Again, I got lucky - the mistake is in my favor. But regardless of his or her education and specialty, a radiologist is still human and can be careless or make mistakes. Shall we all wait for such a mistake to take someone's life before it's brought to the hospital's attention?
kunukaraya
If you're really worried about it, I would contact a lawyer.
alex s
u know a lawyer is a very good ideea this isn't a jocke this is very seriouse
Kimberly H
While I can understand your frustration and fear, you don't have a malpractice case. Misdiagnosis is not automatically equal to malpractice. Medicine is not perfect and neither are physicians. Don't assume that because this particular Radiologist saw something he believed to be a small aneurysm that he is negligent or incompetent. Rare is the doctor that will give someone that type of news without believing that is what they saw, and because MRI's and MRA's are better than what they once were, but still not a perfect view, there is always the small possibility of a misdiagnosis. That is the reason, after all, for second opinions and further tests. Cat scans are much more detailed than MRI's and MRA's and provide a clearer view...but they will never be the first step in a diagnosis. They are meant to confirm or deny a diagnosis made with other tests, so in that sense, this went exactly as can be expected.
He performed a test; he saw *something* in the results that led him to believe you had a small aneurysm. Whether or not it turns out to be an aneurysm, he did you no disservice by telling you what he believed was there. There was no harm done to you, there was no negligence, there was no loss of life or limb...and so, there is no case of malpractice.
I hope that you do not have an aneurysm, I truly do. And if you do not, I hope you will be thankful for that, and not try to harm someone who was trying to help you.
Orignal From: Radiology Mistake - What Would You Do?
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