An anonymous study that was distributed to clinical staff at four academic radiation oncology centers, including Johns Hopkins, shows that there are material gaps between observed and reported episodes of near misses and errors by oncology team members. All of the centers that took part in the study have in-house reporting systems. These medical errors often lead to claims of medical malpractice.

Ninety-six percent of the participants polled noted a responsibility to report such events. Participants included physicians, physicists, radiation therapists and nurses. The participants stated that they often did not report incidents owing to a fear of professional sanctions. Concerns about getting colleagues in trouble or being embarrassed in front of colleagues accounted for only a small percentage of reasons why radiation mistakes were not reported, and these concerns were reported mostly by attending physicians and residents.

Many doctors readily admit that there is much room for improvement. Research findings from one study state that the rate of serious injury during radiotherapy "is approximately 1,000 times higher than in industries such as commercial aviation and modern anesthesiology," which are often considered as benchmark industries to emulate in the medical industry.

Researchers say that about 97 percent of all near-miss radiation errors should be picked up routinely by at least one of 15 quality-control mechanisms.

Radiation errors can bring dire outcomes. If you or a loved one suffered or is suffering because of a radiation mistake, contact an experienced Ohio medical malpractice firm.

Related Resource: Medscape, "Survey unveils scope of unreported radiation errors" Oct. 7, 2011