If you have an MRI scan, you expect the results to give your doctors an accurate picture of what is happening with your health. But what happens if a scan is misinterpreted? A scan is only useful if the images are correctly interpreted. If something is missed or misunderstood, it can affect the diagnosis and treatment that follows.

Unfortunately, this happened in a number of cases reviewed at Royal Derby Hospital. Cardiac MRI scans carried out between 2013 and 2020 were examined after concerns were raised about their interpretation. Of the 1,224 scans reviewed, some were found to have contributed to patient harm, including one case of severe harm. The hospital has apologised, and patients who had a cardiac MRI there during this period have been encouraged to come forward if they are concerned that their care may have been affected.

What happens if an MRI scan is misinterpreted?

An MRI scan may be carried out correctly, but an abnormality can still be missed or incorrectly interpreted when the images are reviewed.

This matters because the scan findings can be an important part of deciding what happens next. If a condition is not recognised, a patient may not receive the right diagnosis, treatment or follow-up at the appropriate time – or at all.

What did the Royal Derby review find?

The NHS Trust found that most patients had not suffered harm, but identified cases where errors in interpreting the scans had affected patients. Three patients suffered moderate harm and one suffered severe harm.

The Trust has apologised to affected patients and introduced changes to the way cardiac MRI scans are reviewed, including additional checks and greater involvement from teams of specialists.

When could an incorrectly interpreted scan be medical negligence?

An error in interpreting an MRI scan does not automatically mean that a patient has a medical negligence claim.

It is necessary to consider what the scan showed, whether it should reasonably have been interpreted differently and whether the error affected the patient’s diagnosis, treatment or health. The circumstances will be different in every case.

What should you do if you are concerned about a scan result?

Being told that something may have been missed on a scan can understandably leave you with questions about whether your treatment should have been different.

If you had a cardiac MRI at Royal Derby Hospital between 2013 and 2020 and are worried that something may have gone wrong, getting legal advice can help you understand whether the concerns raised by the review have any relevance to your own treatment.

The same applies if your concerns relate to an MRI or another diagnostic scan at a different hospital. This could include a CT scan, X-ray, ultrasound or mammogram, for example. You don’t need to know whether a mistake amounts to medical negligence before speaking to a solicitor. A specialist can look at what happened, explain whether there may be a claim and help you understand your options.

Even if your scan or treatment took place some time ago, it is still worth getting advice. Medical negligence claims are subject to time limits, but these do not always run simply from the date of the treatment. In some circumstances, the relevant period may depend on when you became aware that you had suffered an injury and that it may have been connected to your care

Our Medical Negligence experts can guide you through the process, explain things clearly and help you decide what to do next – Call or Email us to discuss your circumstances.