Radsurity Society
Created in 2013, the Radsurity Society is a group of radiologists who advocate for medicolegal justice through honesty in consulting. Founded by President, Dr. Cousin, radiologists in the Radsurity Society come from all subspecialties of radiology and from across the country as they train to become “noble soldiers of justice.”
The Radsurity Society was established to combat problems that exist in the medicolegal field. “Pay for opinion” experts are rampant. Justice is not always served. Jury members decide cases that rely upon medical imaging, yet the jury members have often no formal medical training and/or less than optimal training in specifically the interpretation of medical imaging on radiology modalities. As radiologists know, interpretation of cross-sectional examinations or other imaging takes decades of training to properly interpret, yet it is the jury who determines whether the defendant is guilty or innocent.
If an expert witness radiologist is an excellent radiologist, that does not mean that he or she is an effective teacher. Even when a radiologist is an effective teacher to a medical audience, breaking down complicated cases in a way that is tangible to a jury member having no formal medical training is a completely different skill. If an expert witness radiologist is an excellent radiologist, that does not mean that he or she is an effective teacher. Even when a radiologist is an effective teacher to a medical audience, breaking down complicated cases in a way that is tangible to a jury member having no formal medical training is a completely different skill. Another impediment to justice exists. It is often the good radiologists (the ones who are busy, who are excellent at what they do, who just want to take care of their patients) who are least likely want to talk to attorneys, give testimony, or deal with medicolegal cases. Yet, ironically those radiologists are exactly the ones who we most need to be talking to attorneys and participating in medico-legal work. Otherwise, we are left with the lesser radiologists who are out of practice, not up to date with the latest practices and opining on the standard of care in medicolegal cases. Through the Radsurity Society, Dr. Cousin encourages radiologists to follow the directive of the AMA Code of Medical Ethics, which states that all physicians have the responsibility to get involved in the “administration of justice.” Operating much like a “chief resident” for medicolegal consulting, Dr. Cousin coaches radiologists to ensure that their consulting experience remains a positive one. It just takes one negative consulting experience, one overbearing attorney, one bad deposition, etc. — to “kill” a good expert. As is, there are already not enough good experts to go around. Without good soldiers, we are left just with the mercenaries “pay for opinion” experts, the “what do you want me to say” experts, and we are all worse off with an unchecked system. There are multiple ways a radiologist can use their expertise for good. Interpreting live imaging studies is of course an important one, but there is another way radiologists can use their skills and talents to make a positive difference in the nonclinical medicolegal realm. No matter how long a radiologist’s CV may be, no matter how replete with accolades, no matter how many publications they have…their medicolegal CV may be a nothingburger. Having insufficient specific medicolegal industry experience can be a barrier to entry for being retained by a medicolegal soldier. The Radsurity Society Pledge requires radiologists upon admittance to swear to uphold medicolegal justice and to always be truthful in their opinion, even when doing so is at the expense of opportunity cost and always regardless of the hopes or expectations of the client whether they be plaintiff or defense. Radiologists must also sign a statement to this effect upon onboarding. Any radiologist who is interested in learning more is encouraged to contact the Radsurity Society on our contact page.
The Radsurity Society was established to combat problems that exist in the medicolegal field. “Pay for opinion” experts are rampant. Justice is not always served. Jury members decide cases that rely upon medical imaging, yet the jury members have often no formal medical training and/or less than optimal training in specifically the interpretation of medical imaging on radiology modalities. As radiologists know, interpretation of cross-sectional examinations or other imaging takes decades of training to properly interpret, yet it is the jury who determines whether the defendant is guilty or innocent.
If an expert witness radiologist is an excellent radiologist, that does not mean that he or she is an effective teacher. Even when a radiologist is an effective teacher to a medical audience, breaking down complicated cases in a way that is tangible to a jury member having no formal medical training is a completely different skill. If an expert witness radiologist is an excellent radiologist, that does not mean that he or she is an effective teacher. Even when a radiologist is an effective teacher to a medical audience, breaking down complicated cases in a way that is tangible to a jury member having no formal medical training is a completely different skill. Another impediment to justice exists. It is often the good radiologists (the ones who are busy, who are excellent at what they do, who just want to take care of their patients) who are least likely want to talk to attorneys, give testimony, or deal with medicolegal cases. Yet, ironically those radiologists are exactly the ones who we most need to be talking to attorneys and participating in medico-legal work. Otherwise, we are left with the lesser radiologists who are out of practice, not up to date with the latest practices and opining on the standard of care in medicolegal cases. Through the Radsurity Society, Dr. Cousin encourages radiologists to follow the directive of the AMA Code of Medical Ethics, which states that all physicians have the responsibility to get involved in the “administration of justice.” Operating much like a “chief resident” for medicolegal consulting, Dr. Cousin coaches radiologists to ensure that their consulting experience remains a positive one. It just takes one negative consulting experience, one overbearing attorney, one bad deposition, etc. — to “kill” a good expert. As is, there are already not enough good experts to go around. Without good soldiers, we are left just with the mercenaries “pay for opinion” experts, the “what do you want me to say” experts, and we are all worse off with an unchecked system. There are multiple ways a radiologist can use their expertise for good. Interpreting live imaging studies is of course an important one, but there is another way radiologists can use their skills and talents to make a positive difference in the nonclinical medicolegal realm. No matter how long a radiologist’s CV may be, no matter how replete with accolades, no matter how many publications they have…their medicolegal CV may be a nothingburger. Having insufficient specific medicolegal industry experience can be a barrier to entry for being retained by a medicolegal soldier. The Radsurity Society Pledge requires radiologists upon admittance to swear to uphold medicolegal justice and to always be truthful in their opinion, even when doing so is at the expense of opportunity cost and always regardless of the hopes or expectations of the client whether they be plaintiff or defense. Radiologists must also sign a statement to this effect upon onboarding. Any radiologist who is interested in learning more is encouraged to contact the Radsurity Society on our contact page.