ACR holds hearings on expert-witness issue

Besides cardiologists who do their own imaging, perhaps no one irks radiologists more than imaging specialists who testify as expert witnesses in radiology malpractice cases. Seeing one of their own on the other side of the witness stand is a sure-fire way to get a radiologist's blood boiling.

Dear AuntMinnie Member,

Besides cardiologists doing their own imaging, perhaps nothing irks radiologists more than the idea of imaging specialists testifying as expert witnesses in a radiology malpractice case. Seeing one of their own on the other side of the witness stand is a sure-fire way to get a radiologist's blood boiling.

It's no surprise, then, that the American College of Radiology has begun looking into a number of complaints it has received regarding expert-witness testimony by radiologists who are ACR members. Staff writer Tracie L. Thompson is following the story for us, with the current update available in our Imaging Center Digital Community.

The college's Committee on Ethics met earlier this month to discuss complaints against two members who have testified as expert witnesses. While the college isn't discussing the particulars of the complaints, it is possible that the individuals could be suspended or expelled from the ACR if it's determined that their testimony violated ethical standards.

The ACR set up standards for reviewing complaints on expert-witness testimony in 2002, but the process has been used on only one other occasion. An ACR representative said that complaints about expert-witness testimony appear to have increased in just the last six months.

Get the rest of the story, as well as the legal underpinnings behind the ACR's review, in the Imaging Center Digital Community, at centers.auntminnie.com.

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