Medical malpractice of prostate brachytherapy

Medical Malpractice Claims in Radiation Oncology: A Population-Based Study 1985-2012

“…Most prior studies of oncology claims have evaluated jury verdicts 10,12–15 , which are limited to approximately 8% of closed claims 18 . A prior study about claims in lung cancer patients also using PIAA data does not provide specific information on radiation oncology 16 .…”

“…Elliot et al 10 evaluated 13 cases involving prostate brachytherapy, where claims typically involved an alleged breach of standard of care. Another study reviewing 20 malpractice suits involving a single expert reviewer identified the most common allegations as delays in diagnosis, breach of standard of care, or failure to obtain a second opinion 11 .…”

Late rectal toxicity after low-dose-rate brachytherapy: Incidence, predictors, and management of side effects

“…Late RP can be devastating for patients. In fact, in a series of 13 BT-related medical malpractice cases, 11 were initiated because of a prostatice rectal fistula (50).…”

Medical malpractice in the age of technology: How specialty societies can make a difference

“…Thus, a recent report describing 13 prostate brachytherapy cases in which the patient sued for malpractice is particularly disturbing (4). Eleven of 13 claims were brought because the patient developed a urethrorectal fistula, a complication known to occur in approximately 1 of 300 cases (4,17,18), and not necessarily indicative of malpractice. In none of these 11 fistula cases did it seem that the standard of care was violated, in the authors' opinion (4).…”