General description of the work Consultant Radiologists undertake
Consultant Radiologists deal with X-rays, CT (computed tomography) scans and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans. They examine, interpret and report on these investigations.
Consultant Radiologists are also involved in investigations such as barium meals and barium enemas as well as isotope scans and mammography. Some Consultant Radiologists are involved in more interventional radiology procedures such as discography and bone biopsy.


Most common clinical areas / procedures leading to a claim of clinical negligence
• Misdiagnosis of mammography results
• Misdiagnosis of X-rays, CT scans or MRI scans
• Adverse events following interventional radiology procedures


Sub-Specialities / Alternative and Additional job titles
The Consultant Radiologist may specialise in a particular area of radiology such as the brain or spine and be known as a Consultant Neuroradiologist. A Consultant Radiologist with a special interest in radiology in children may be known as a Consultant Paediatric Radiologist.


Usual Qualifications
The Consultant Radiologists will have FRCR (Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Radiologists) after their names.


Academic Appointments
The Consultant Radiologist may be a Lecturer or Professor in Radiology at a Medical School. He/She may be an Examiner for the Royal College of Radiologists.


Our Experts
The Consultant Radiologists who prepare reports on medical negligence cases on our behalf are all experienced NHS Consultants. They are in active clinical practice and they are experienced at preparing medico-legal reports. They are willing to attend Court in the UK and Ireland provided that they are given enough notice and that their fees and expenses for attending are agreed in advance.
Each of the Consultant Radiologists who prepare reports on our behalf has particular areas of clinical interest within his/her practice and we match each case with the most appropriate Consultant.


The Report
The Consultant Radiologists prepare their Reports for the benefit of the Courts. In other words, they prepare unbiased Reports in order to help the Court to decide the case, rather than to help one side or the other.
The Consultant Radiologists examine all the documentation and details of the case and look at the standard of care that the Client received. They then give their opinion on whether or not the standard of care that the Client received fell below the standard of care he/she should have received.
Where necessary they provide background documentation and information to back-up their opinion.


Documentation required
The most important documentation is the Client’s Hospital Records. This documentation will usually contain their Doctors’ Records, the Radiology and Laboratory Investigations and Results and Reports, Operation Records, Nursing Records, Out-Patient Clinic Records, and Correspondence.
There will be X-ray films and/or CT and MRI scans. Those related to the event in dispute will be needed by the Consultant Radiologist when he/she is preparing his/her Report.
An account of events by the Client and/or the Client’s family will be of assistance to the Consultant Radiologist. Copies of the Client’s Attendances with their Solicitor will also help to clarify the areas of care that are at issue in the case.


Time-scale for the Report
Once we have confirmation to proceed with the Report the Consultant Radiologists can usually prepare their Reports within 8 to 10 weeks. If a Report is needed urgently we will endeavour to have it prepared sooner than this.


Price of the Report
Once we receive all the documentation we will provide you with a quotation for the price of the Report from the Consultant Radiologist. If you decide to go ahead with the Report we will have it prepared and we will forward it to you on receipt of payment.
If you decide not to go ahead with the Report after receiving the quotation we will return all the documentation to you and there is no charge.


Queries on the Report / Addendums
The Reports from the Consultant Radiologists are usually very clear and give a concise opinion on the standard of care the Client received.
If minor clarifications are needed then these will be provided at no extra cost.
If, after the Report has been completed, additional documentation needs to be examined by the Consultant Radiologist or if additional work needs to be done in order to provide an Addendum to the Report, then there may be an additional charge. If so, we will inform you of this and only proceed with your approval.


Client Examination
The Consultant Radiologists do not normally need to see the Client in order to prepare a Report on the standard of care he/she has received. They can normally prepare their Report from the case notes and other documentation.