Diagnostic imaging is an integral part of healthcare to detect diseases and enable prompt treatment. However, negligence in diagnostic services can affect both the patients and the responsible physicians. One such medicolegal case is discussed here. A 37-year-old woman gave birth to a child with agenesis of the right leg below the knee, left foot below the ankle joint, and fingers. The congenital structural malformation in the fetus was not detected by the radiologist during four ultrasonography (USG) tests performed at different stages of pregnancy. Therefore, the patient filed a case against the radiologist and his imaging center in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).
Case background The patient consulted Dr. X, a gynecologist, and obstetrician, for prenatal care till delivery. Upon Dr. X’s recommendation, the USG was performed four times during pregnancy. The…
