Diagnostic errors in rheumatology and medico-legal consequences.

Abstract

Medical errors and adverse effects of treatment are inherent to medical practice. Like any other medical specialty, rheumatology is not exempt. Although the problem is imprecisely quantified, according to some authors it affects up to 10% of hospitalised patients. Describing and qualifying misdiagnoses in rheumatology will help us to understand and reduce these. Further, misdiagnosis generates unjustified costs and medico-legal consequences with errors in initial diagnosis the basis for medico-legal disputes involving assessment of work incapacity.