Sept. 20, 2011—The Food and Drug Administration will host a free public workshop Oct. 25 & 26 on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safety. The purpose of the workshop is to discuss factors affecting the safe use of MRI and approaches to risk mitigation. There is no fee to register for the workshop and registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. If you wish to attend this Workshop, you must register by 5 pm EDT on October 4, 2011.

In reviewing 25 years of U.S. malpractice claim payouts, Johns Hopkins researchers found that diagnostic errors — not surgical mistakes or medication overdoses — accounted for the largest fraction of claims, the most severe patient harm, and the highest total of penalty payouts. Diagnosis-related payments amounted to $38.8 billion between 1986 and 2010, they found.