Civil liability related to imaging exams in Brazil

摘要: Aim: To analyze all court lawsuits in Brazil relation to civil liability involving radiographic and tomographic images up February 2014. Methods: All Brazilian courts were surveyed for “civil liability,” “error,” “radiology,” “radiography,” “tomography,” returning 3923 second-instance lawsuits. Out of them excluded labor legislation, health insurance coverage radiological examinations, criminal cases 359 selected. Compliance with expert reports, involvement imaging exams, the defendant professional, reasons claims convictions, indemnity evaluated. Results: Of selected lawsuits, physicians defendants 71%, radiologist 10.6% dentists 18.4%. The prevalence found liable was related lack or delay requesting exams (49.6%), among physicians, misdiagnosis (47.1%). Considering dentists, had mostly an indirect involvement, failure proposed treatment (73.8%) most prevalent cause liable; no sued. Regarding indemnity, 50% resulted compensation R$ 20,000 (US$ 8,583). Conclusions: Misdiagnosis main radiologists liable. medical field showed largest absolute number liable, but highest proportion directed dentists.