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Radiologists and an EU representative compared advantages of teleradiology and warned of legal and medical risks during a joint session of the European Society of Radiology and European Commission.

The benefits of teleradiology are clear: it brings expertise within reach of remote hospitals where there is insufficient work to justify the appointment of local radiologists, it provides specialized knowledge to deal with complex problems, and it enables the examination of patients without the need for their transfer to tertiary centers. It is also particularly helpful in emergency medicine for centers that do not have 24/7 coverage. But the legal void concerning the use of teleradiology in the EU may impair patient care.

Linguistic problems or incorrect wording in a report or description of clinical impact may occur during the practice of teleradiology. To increase safety, quality controls should be implemented.

A number of legal issues must also be cleared, such as proper accreditation of teleradiologists in the country where they deliver their services and agreements between local radiologists and the teleradiologist. Responsibility for the regulation of teleradiology must also lie with the state where the patient undergoes the imaging procedure. Likewise, if a patient is provided with a service from a country other than the one where treatment was received, he or she should be fully informed.

Teleradiology has yet to be defined as a medical act in its own right.

Source : EU

You can get more details about Teleradiology & its related topics from our Teleradiology User Group.