ABSTRACT
Information is the key to practicing modern medicine. A radiologist provides information
to patients, to the team that works with the radiologist, and to other health-care
providers. Information is defined as diminished randomness. Radiologists add value
by decreasing randomness or diminishing uncertainty. They are in the business of uncertainty
reduction. An understanding of the purpose of any human enterprise is a prerequisite
to assessing the quality of an enterprise. This article discusses aspects of information
that are relevant to improving patient care and therefore to reducing the risk of
potential litigation. The discussion includes the following aspects: documentation,
or the recording of information; communication, or the information from the patient;
informed consent, or the information to the patient; the prudent doctor doctrine and
the reasonable patient standard, or the choice of information; and off-label use,
or the regulation of information.
KEYWORD
Risk management - radiology - medicine and law information - documentation - communication
- informed consent - off-label use - quality patient care
