Doctors routinely rely on CT scans and MRIs to provide critical information needed to diagnose a wide range of serious conditions. When properly interpreted, these imaging studies help healthcare providers identify and treat life-threatening ailments such as strokes, aneurysms, cancers, and internal injuries. However, when a radiologist or physician misreads a CT scan or MRI, the consequences can be devastating. Misread CT scans and MRIs can result in significant abnormalities being missed, downplayed, or misinterpreted, delaying life-saving treatments or leading to improper medical interventions, and doctors who make such careless mistakes should be held accountable. If you or someone you love were harmed by a healthcare provider’s failure to accurately interpret diagnostic imaging, you may have grounds to pursue legal action, and you should talk to an attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, our capable Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys are committed to helping individuals harmed by careless medical mistakes seek justice, and if we represent you, we will fight tirelessly on your behalf.
When a CT scan or MRI is misread, patients can be left without the timely medical intervention necessary to address potentially fatal conditions. For example, the failure to detect a tumor may allow cancer to progress unchecked, limiting treatment options and reducing survival rates. In other instances, radiologists may overlook evidence of a stroke, brain hemorrhage, or internal bleeding, which can result in catastrophic injuries, including permanent brain damage, paralysis, or death. Misinterpreting imaging studies can also lead to unnecessary or inappropriate procedures when conditions are misdiagnosed, exposing patients to the risks of surgeries or medications they did not actually need.
Patients who experience harm due to misread CT scans and MRIs often endure prolonged physical suffering, emotional trauma, and financial hardship. In many cases, the delay or error in diagnosis forces patients to undergo more invasive treatments than would have been necessary if the condition had been promptly identified.
The misreading of CT scans and MRIs can serve as the basis for a medical malpractice claim under Maryland law. Generally, to establish medical malpractice, a plaintiff must establish that a defendant healthcare provider was negligent. In Maryland, the first element of negligence is duty, which is usually established through the provider-patient relationship. The duty doctors owe patients is to adhere to the accepted standard of care, which includes exercising reasonable skill and diligence when diagnosing patients.
The plaintiff must then show that the defendant breached this duty by departing from the standard of care. Examples of such deviations may include failing to correctly interpret a CT scan or MRI or missing a condition that other reasonably prudent healthcare providers would have identified under similar circumstances. Next, the plaintiff must prove causation by demonstrating that this breach directly led to the plaintiff’s injuries. For example, if a radiologist fails to identify a hemorrhage on a brain scan, resulting in a delayed diagnosis and worsened neurological outcome, this connection must be clearly established. In Maryland, plaintiffs typically need expert testimony to define the standard of care and to explain how the defendant’s deviation from it caused the plaintiff’s harm.
Finally, the plaintiff must show that they suffered compensable damages. Recoverable damages under Maryland law may include the costs of medical care, rehabilitation, and assistive devices, as well as compensation for lost wages, diminished earning capacity, physical pain, emotional suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. In fatal cases, surviving family members may pursue wrongful death claims to recover funeral expenses and compensation for the loss of companionship and support.
It is critical that diagnostic imaging is interpreted properly, as when CT scans and MRIs are misread, the fallout can permanently alter a patient’s life. If you or a loved one suffered injuries because a healthcare provider failed to interpret a diagnostic test correctly, you may be owed damages, and you should speak to an attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, our experienced Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys have a record of helping victims hold negligent medical providers accountable, and if you hire us, we will fight to seek the compensation you need to move forward. Our office is located in Baltimore, and we proudly serve clients throughout the region. To schedule a free consultation, contact us at 410-889-1850 or reach out to us through our online form today.
