Communicating critical values in anatomic pathology.

Critical values in anatomic pathology are usually information sensitive, whereas most such values in laboratory medicine are time sensitive. However, there is an important time element in anatomic pathology as well. Pathologists should be aware that many medicolegal actions against radiologists are based on failure to communicate "abnormal" results in a timely manner. Are pathologists the next group that will be targeted? Pathologists can spend much time trying to communicate important data that will affect patient care to someone who will accept the information. This is not an efficient use of pathologists' professional time. Most important, what are our obligations to patients to communicate "critical" abnormal results to the treating physician? What results need to be so communicated? Are pathologists obliged to contact the patient directly if there is a failure to communicate the critical results to a clinician? We explore these questions to promote discussion of these important issues as they relate to pathologists' liability and to patient care.