Medicolegal Aspects
Abstract: Breast cancer is the leading cause of malpractice claims for radiologists. The usual civil charge of negligence (malpractice) will be discussed. The most common complaint is delay in diagnosis. In symptomatic patients, this means failure to carry out the appropriate imaging investigation including biopsy. In screening, it usually means failure to detect the early signs of breast cancer. Three important principles in the law of civil negligence are present. There is the duty of the doctor for the treatment of his patient and his responsibility for giving the correct treatment. The failure to do so is judged by peers and is called breach of duty. The task of the patient to prove harm in a measurable way is called causation. Major differences in judicial structures and frequency of negligence claims exist between countries.