If a specialist ordered an MRI on my back 8 months ago, can I sue for my pain and suffering if my primary care physician never even reviewed the results of the test?
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If a specialist ordered an MRI on my back 8 months ago, can I sue for my pain and suffering if my primary care physician never even reviewed the results of the test?
The nurse called and said everything looked normal but I kept experiencing pain which grew worse over time. I went to the walk-in clinic and the doctor looked at the MRI report and said I had a nerve impingement. Finally, after all this time, I’m getting treatment for this.
Asked on October 23, 2015 under Malpractice Law, Washington
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
You write that the specialist ordered the MRI...why then would you sue if the primary care physician did not review the test results? The law does not require a primary care phsysician to reveiw a specialist's work or the tests he/she orderd. The primary does not generally review, or be liable for, everything affecting your health--only for those matters which the primary him/herself is consulted or working on. There has to some reason to hold the primary liable here, beyond the fact that he/sheis your primary.
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