Frequent Radiology Testing

The other day I overheard some of the Radiology staff talking about patients that have radiology files like criminal rap sheets. I work in an ER and we have frequent flyers for abdominal and chest pain that get the "full meal deal" work-ups which includes Ct Scans and X-Rays 20 plus times a year or more. Just curious what others feel about the excessiveness of these scans and the risk of exposure over time.

Who will be held accountable for the risks of over exposure? It's like the little boy that cried wolf.... eventually there will be "something wrong" and if a scan is not done in such a case the consequences could be deadly. On the otherhand, you can bet in the next few years we will see lawyers on TV asking, "Have you been over exposed to radiation by excessive testing and now have complaints of XYZ?" "You may have a case, contact the offices of Blah Blah Blah for a free consultation."

I think things will get a whole lot worse before they ever get better. Law suits seem to have much better odds than the lottery these days and the medical community is quite an easy target. What does anyone else think?

Toq