General Discussion

Aristus

(72,283 posts)

59. Did your previous provider look at the actual x-ray, or read the interpretation

Mon Aug 19, 2013, 03:21 PM

Aug 2013

from the radiologist? If she saw the actual x-ray, and interpreted the results herself, she may have misinterpreted the finding on the x-ray as an acute fracture, rather than DJD. Misinterpretation is not the same as negligence.

However, if the radiologist interpreted the results as DJD, put it in his report, and your doctor read the report and failed to assess and treat for DJD, then she is negligent.

In the future, if something like this happens again, don't wait a few years to get it evaluated. A community health clinic may be able to see you for a low, up-front flat fee, plus billing on a sliding scale according to income. The ACA may make acute care more affordable, however. I certainly hope so.

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Was my doctor negligent? Your opinions please. [View all] bunnies Aug 2013 OP

Yes, under current laws and practices they are supposed to nadinbrzezinski Aug 2013 #1

Thanks. bunnies Aug 2013 #2

Don't waste time finding a lawyer that specializes in medical malpractice. Baitball Blogger Aug 2013 #41

Yes, I was just reading about the statute of limitations. bunnies Aug 2013 #43

Tough call LordGlenconner Aug 2013 #75

Those laws vary by state, FYI LordGlenconner Aug 2013 #73

I would find a good lawyer fasttense Aug 2013 #3

You are seeking advice from the wrong place. See an attorney at law. Coyotl Aug 2013 #4

I guess thats what I was asking... bunnies Aug 2013 #10

YES Aerows Aug 2013 #69

Thanks, Aerows. bunnies Aug 2013 #72

I do my best :) Aerows Aug 2013 #74

Certainly sounds like it - and I would be pissed, too petronius Aug 2013 #5

The ortho didnt mention a break. bunnies Aug 2013 #12

The X-Ray says fracture Yo_Mama Aug 2013 #70

I doubt it... Not knowing exactly what the first physician said, it is hard to say, but hlthe2b Aug 2013 #6

So its fair of her to just assume that I know that? bunnies Aug 2013 #9

I never said it was "fair". You asked if the physician would likely be guilty of negligence. hlthe2b Aug 2013 #15

Thanks for the advice. bunnies Aug 2013 #17

It is possible that might well have already been the case, had you seen the orthopod at the time hlthe2b Aug 2013 #20

I had a complete loss of surface cartillage during the time between x-rays. bunnies Aug 2013 #33

"none of those breaks resulted in DJD" --> that you know of yet. Hekate Aug 2013 #25

Thanks, Hekate bunnies Aug 2013 #26

"telling you that you had a break in the past is not inconsistent with telling you hlthe2b Aug 2013 #34

Broken bones can only lead to DJD if they involve a joint. kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #28

Heres what the report said about the break: bunnies Aug 2013 #30

Her original injury was of the elbow, which if untreated, almost assuredly will lead to DJD. hlthe2b Aug 2013 #32

Yes, assuming it was intraarticular. kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #35

yes sweetapogee Aug 2013 #39

I would go and talk to a lawyer.. one_voice Aug 2013 #7

Thanks one_voice. bunnies Aug 2013 #18

Not misdiagnosed Yo_Mama Aug 2013 #80

You may want to seek legal help Harmony Blue Aug 2013 #8

The best way to tell if that doctor was negligent... cynatnite Aug 2013 #11

The ortho saw the DJD in the 2011 x-ray. bunnies Aug 2013 #13

Accusing doctors of negligence isn't an easy or simple... cynatnite Aug 2013 #16

Im fine with whatever the answer is, really. bunnies Aug 2013 #21

I think you should absolutely talk to a lawyer. Xithras Aug 2013 #14

From what you've written, I would certainly seek out an attorney. But be extra-vigilant in Egalitarian Thug Aug 2013 #19

Why would suing make me unemployable? bunnies Aug 2013 #23

Suing labels you as an injured troublemaker. Shrike47 Aug 2013 #29

ugh. bunnies Aug 2013 #31

Unwritten and completely unlawful blacklists that have existed probably forever. Egalitarian Thug Aug 2013 #38

There seems to be a never ending list of ways... bunnies Aug 2013 #42

I'm sorry to say that I agree completely. It's all terribly wrong, but most people Egalitarian Thug Aug 2013 #50

Thanks Thug. bunnies Aug 2013 #55

Depends upon what you asked her zipplewrath Aug 2013 #22

I have ran into this Boudica the Lyoness Aug 2013 #24

!!! Thats HORRIBLE! bunnies Aug 2013 #27

Take your medical documents to a Raven Aug 2013 #36

Who read and interpreted the initial x-ray? Your physician or the radiologist? lynne Aug 2013 #37

The same radiologist that read my new MRI. bunnies Aug 2013 #44

Wow, that sucks. I am sorry to hear it. Quantess Aug 2013 #40

I am a lawyer, but I am not your lawyer, so, let me give you this non-legal advice: msanthrope Aug 2013 #45

Thank you so much. bunnies Aug 2013 #48

Helpful, informative post. n/t pnwmom Aug 2013 #77

No, the doctor may not have been negligent, really. MineralMan Aug 2013 #46

The degenerative changes DID show up in the original x-ray. bunnies Aug 2013 #49

That was a couple of years ago. MineralMan Aug 2013 #51

Thanks for your thoughful, reasoned responses. bunnies Aug 2013 #56

I try to help. Sadly, I couldn't offer much in this case. MineralMan Aug 2013 #60

You've helped me a lot, really. bunnies Aug 2013 #62

Yeah, it really is the unaffordable nature of healthcare Yo_Mama Aug 2013 #81

Not really ... (not siding with doctor) REP Aug 2013 #47

She never even told me I had arthritis. bunnies Aug 2013 #53

Actually, I got used to it - don't like it, but it's my normal REP Aug 2013 #66

Holy crap! bunnies Aug 2013 #68

Have you tried PRP injections?? REP Aug 2013 #91

No. I havent even heard of them! bunnies Aug 2013 #93

The only persons who can give you a competent answer... Deep13 Aug 2013 #52

talk to a lawyer, but this is hardly a slam-dunk: unblock Aug 2013 #54

You had a fracture that healed poorly, with a lot of scar tissue. Avalux Aug 2013 #57

Ive had an mri of my right wrist as well... bunnies Aug 2013 #61

Do you have the option of going to another doc? Avalux Aug 2013 #67

Your doc's major lapse was in not Warpy Aug 2013 #58

A broken neck?!!! bunnies Aug 2013 #63

You might have enough of a negligence case Warpy Aug 2013 #87

She actually *didnt* document it at all. bunnies Aug 2013 #89

That omission from her records just improved the odds Warpy Aug 2013 #90

Thanks for all your help, Warpy. bunnies Aug 2013 #92

Did your previous provider look at the actual x-ray, or read the interpretation Aristus Aug 2013 #59

She read the interpretation. bunnies Aug 2013 #64

No, Congress is negligent. hunter Aug 2013 #65

Agreed. bunnies Aug 2013 #71

The best way to find out if you had a good case against the doctor pnwmom Aug 2013 #76

Im fighting SSDI now, also. bunnies Aug 2013 #78

On SSDI, I've heard that they almost always reject people on the first try. pnwmom Aug 2013 #79

Did you challenge your worker's comp denial? I think it is standard practice Glimmer of Hope Aug 2013 #82

I didnt, actually. bunnies Aug 2013 #84

Doctor is not negligent.... FarPoint Aug 2013 #83

So, it was ok that she never told me I have arthritis? bunnies Aug 2013 #85

It's very common ... FarPoint Aug 2013 #86

She actually never treated me for anything. bunnies Aug 2013 #88