What a pathology review usually focuses on

Biopsy, lab review, and cancer diagnosis. A case review should reconstruct the sequence of specimen handling, interpretation, reporting, correlation with clinical findings, and amended diagnosis from the records available at each decision point.

Five decision points to map

  • 1. Specimen handling
  • 2. Interpretation
  • 3. Reporting
  • 4. Correlation with clinical findings
  • 5. Amended diagnosis

Records that can answer those questions

  • Pathology consultation, procedure, or encounter notes
  • Orders and test results used to make the clinical decision
  • Medication, monitoring, procedure, or nursing records tied to the event
  • Communication with the patient and other specialties
  • Later treatment showing the complication, corrected diagnosis, or outcome

Expert and causation questions

  • What training and specialty should the reviewing pathology expert have under state law?
  • Which of the key decision points in biopsy, lab review, and cancer diagnosis is actually being challenged?
  • What information was available at that time, not only in hindsight?
  • What part of the later harm is attributable to the underlying illness or known risk?
  • Would a different medical decision probably have changed treatment or outcome?

Related specialties

Pediatrics Malpractice GuidePediatrics malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.Pharmacy Malpractice GuidePharmacy malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.Radiology Malpractice GuideRadiology malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.Surgery Malpractice GuideSurgery malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.

Use licensing, records, and medical-information sources appropriate to the specialty.