MALPRACTICE PROTECTION - COMMUNICATION OF DIAGNOSTIC UNCERTAINTY

Malpractice claims against pathologists for misdiagnosis have been sha rply rising, especially in the areas of breast fine-needle aspirations (BFNAs) and cervical (Pap) smears. The current slate of medical malpr actice law is reviewed as it relates to pathologists' anatomic reports . Communication is one of the best medical malpractice prevention tool s This article examines anatomic pathology reports in terms of the mer its of communicating diagnostic error rates to the clinician/patient. In the areas of BFNAs and cervical smears, dissemination of diagnostic error rates in the cytology report is recommended. This would help sa feguard against malpractice liability being imposed without showing a deviation by the cytopathologist from reasonable practice standards. ( C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.