> Would the physician in your example really do the reading of the ultrasound? Every time I've had imaging done, a radiologist has done the initial read of the

> Would the physician in your example really do the reading of the ultrasound? Every time I've had imaging done, a radiologist has done the initial read of the scan - the ordering physician has only worked on the treatment plan. My last ER visit involved being dismissed by the ER doctor with a diagnosis I knew was wrong. I played Dr. Google when I got home, went to a nurse practitioner, told her what I thought it was and requested an ultrasound to confirm. The tech came in and did it, and we all three saw exactly what it was and she ordered a referral to the surgeon on the spot. I'm sure there is some complex of rules regarding radiologists, but I don't know what they are. They also don't send one in for most prenatal ultrasounds; it's just the doctor and the tech, or sometimes only the doctor. I would expect a radiologist is only needed in certain complex cases, or for certain types of scans. > the attending physician at the ER totally missed the break and sent us on our way (with instructions to follow up with a specialist later). Maybe a radiologist would have caught the break up front and saved us some pain+suffering. Maybe. A lot of doctors are just not great at their jobs. I have many, many stories about this. If I were once again to play Dr. Google, I'd hope that the reason he missed it is because it was a comparatively small and non-obvious break, for which there isn't really treatment besides rest anyway. Since you mentioned averting pain and suffering...maybe not.