If a cytologist ever make a mistake with giving bad results to the doctor would they get arrested?

Question

If a cytologist ever make a mistake with giving bad results to the doctor would they get arrested?

Answer 1

T Junior;

you have got to be kidding right?  I understand you are just asking a question but I would love to know where this question came from.  If it were the case that he or she could be arrested that would mean that the new standard for pathologists, and probably all medical doctors would be absolute 100 percent perfection in everything otherwise you go to jail!  To the best of my knowledge there is no criminality to being a human being and being fallible.  If it was found out that the pathologist falsified the results so as to specifically injure the patient then I suppose that could be prosecuted however simply making a mistake is not criminal.  Also, think about it; if the pathologist "overread" the specimen, then the person doesn't have the disease. They may have spent a few days very worried but the end result is that the results is negative.

Answer 2

Medical errors are (or were) the third leading cause of death in America. American hospitals are among the worst in the  western world. Hate to shatter anyones image, but we have huge problems even making the staff wash their hands.

Answer 3

No! Making a medical mistake is not a criminal offense.

Answer 4

No. Medical malpractice is not a crime.

Answer 5

Probably not, it would be regarded as just an error.  That's why second and sometimes third opinions are important.

Answer 6

"Good faith".  That means that any mistake made while a doctor or officer was doing their job is forgiven.  If a reasonable person could come to a conclusion based on certain evidence, then that conclusion is made in "good faith".

If however, the diagnosis was made maliciously or with intent to defraud, etc, then legal action could be taken...if it could be proven.  Very slim chance though.

Answer 7

That is quite doubtful.

If it was a genuine mistake, it is not likely anything would happen. If it was careless, he could be adminstratively punished by the hospital. The only time an arrest would be even possible is if you could prove negligence and intent.