Leonard Berlin, MD, a professor emeritus of radiology at Rush Medical College and the University of Illinois College of Medicine, died peacefully on September 3. He was 90.
Leonard Berlin, MD.
Berlin practiced radiology for more than 55 years and was a leading voice on the intersection between medicine and malpractice. He contributed to nearly 450 articles, many of which detail cases and trends in medical malpractice lawsuits.
Berlin wrote a perspective published in 2021 in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, which detailed a case in which he was sued in 1973 for allegedly misinterpreting a hand injury on x-ray imaging. Berlin noted that an undetected bone chip fracture in the patient’s hand was hidden. This brought on a malpractice lawsuit by the patient. He successfully countersued the patient’s lawyer, with the jury finding the lawyer guilty of “willfully and wantonly bringing suit against Berlin, without reasonable cause.”
Berlin is perhaps better known for hosting mock malpractice trials at the RSNA annual meetings. At RSNA 2012, he delivered a 22-minute poem about disclosing medical errors to patients.
The American College of Radiology's Radiology Leadership Institute honored Berlin with a 2015 Leadership Luminary Award.
Radiologists are mourning Berlin’s death. Richard Duszak, MD, from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, posted on LinkedIn that Berlin was an “extraordinary leader, educator, mentor, and friend to so many.”
Berlin is survived by his wife of 69 years, Phyllis (née Panitch), as well as his children Steve, Paul, Robert, and Jonathan. He is also survived by his brother, Howard Berlin, MD, and several grandchildren.
According to his Legacy.com page, Berlin’s funeral will be held on Sunday, September 7, at 1:30 p.m. CT at Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah in Wilmette, IL. It can be viewed live or on demand on Berlin’s webpage on mitzvahfunerals.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions in Berlin’s name be made to the Jewish United Fund.
