Diagnostic errors account for a large number of preventable deaths each year, and exacerbate the illnesses of countless other people, according to a study in the Journal of Patient Safety. But what if there were a test which could expand a doctor’s view of which diseases might be more likely in an individual patient? Would that lower the number of medical malpractice cases each year?

To that end, doctors are turning to genetics for answers. Certain tests can inform a doctor whether or not a woman carries the genetic markers for a hereditary cancer syndrome, thus giving the patient and the doctor more options before cancer even manifests itself.

Not so fast

The area of genetics is a cloudy one at best, and there are certain potential problems surrounding tests as a diagnostics tool. In an article published by Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News, there are a number of possible liability issues surrounding genetic tests:

  • Most doctors aren’t trained in genetics. While medical professionals understand how genes work, they’re not genes specialists. Some doctors lack the knowledge and training to correctly and appropriately assess which tests would be needed and why.
  • Testing is expensive. Not all insurance companies pay for genetic tests, and most medical institutions lack the proper equipment or facilities in which to analyze the results. This expenditure is passed on to the patient, who may not agree to a test which isn’t guaranteed to “work,” so to speak.
  • The science moves too quickly to allow for experts. Like your computer that is outdated almost immediately, the field of genetics is a fluid one, and changes are often made quickly. This makes it more difficult to find an “expert” doctor who understands the importance of genetic testing. In fact, the current genetics specialists often disagree with one another about genetic testing for certain medication users – thus, a doctor’s chance of getting it “wrong” could increase.

With so many chances for error, we may be a few years away from seeing genetic testing as a standard part of the diagnostic process. Despite all the potential good, the chance of error is great, tests are expensive and there may not be enough genetic specialists to properly administer and evaluate the tests. For now, perhaps, it is safe to assume that most doctors will stay away until the process becomes more accessible to everyone.

We invite you to visit our website at Plaxen & Adler, P.A. for more information about medical malpractice, and to see a complete list of our services for injury victims throughout Maryland.