Under the common scenario where a patient is sent by a referring doctor to a radiologist for testing, established protocol throughout the United States for many years has been for the latter to send back the resulting radiology report to the ordering physician. The referral doctor then follows up with the patient to discuss findings and, if necessary, relevant treatment.

That practice is increasingly coming under question, as more patients are challenging doctors in instances where they must suffer an extensive waiting period before they get their results or when radiology findings show one or more abnormalities.

In fact, failure to communicate with the patient concerning radiology results -- quickly and directly, with the primary communicator being the radiologist and not the referring doctor -- has become a primary cause for radiology medical malpractice lawsuits.

Judicial outcomes in both state courts and at the federal appellate level clearly signal a changing trend in patient expectations regarding communications with physicians. Many patients no longer want to wait a week or more to know important medical results, and they especially don't want to hear them indirectly from a referral doctor. When information becomes known to the radiologist, the growing expectation is that it will be communicated directly at that time.

More cases, too, are focusing on a doctor's "duty of care" to ensure that a patient be promptly informed of imaging findings that reveal abnormal results, without regard to internal understandings among doctors as to who is customarily responsible for following through.

Communication problems rank as the fourth largest cause of malpractice suits in the radiology area. Patients are increasingly expecting prompt and direct exchanges concerning imaging results. The medical community is undoubtedly taking note of that fact.

Related Resource: www.diagnosticimaging.com "Malpractice Movement Calls for Reporting Directly to Patients" April 11, 2011