Responsabilidade civil do radiologista no diagnóstico do câncer de mama através do exame de mamografia* Civil liability of the radiologist in the diagnosis of breast cancer through mammography

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a responsabilidade civil por erro medico no que tange, especificamente, a con-duta do radiologista no diagnostico do câncer atraves do exame mamografico. Foram analisadas, para exemplificar,decisoes judiciais com o objetivo de mostrar o entendimento dos tribunais nacionais, dentre eles, o Supremo TribunalFederal, a quem compete revisar, em grau de recurso, as decisoes judiciais que afrontam a Constituicao Federal, bemcomo o Superior Tribunal de Justica, que tem a competencia de julgar em grau de recurso as decisoes violadoras dasleis federais. O material utilizado demonstra a visao dos tribunais acerca do tema objeto desta pesquisa, revelando asconsequencias do erro do medico radiologista e dos servicos de radiologia no âmbito do direito civil, que possui aindenizacao monetaria como consequencia da existencia de responsabilidade civil. Ou seja, o dever de indenizar de-corre da constatacao da existencia da responsabilidade civil. Assim, afastada a responsabilidade civil, fica afastado odever de indenizar. Indenizacao nao se confunde com a responsabilidade civil, esta e fundamento daquela.Unitermos: Erro medico; Mamografia; Câncer de mama; Responsabilidade civil.The present study was aimed at analyzing civil liability for medical errors specifically for a radiologist’s errors in themammographic diagnosis of breast cancer. As examples, Court decisions were analyzed with the aim of showing theunderstanding of the Brazilian Courts of Law, among them the Supreme Federal Court that is responsible for reviewing,on appeal, judicial decisions affronting the Brazilian Constitution, as well as the Superior Court of Justice, that is competen tto judge on appeals against decisions violating Federal Laws. The reviewed material demonstrates the Courts’ view onthe subject discussed on the present article, describing the consequences of radiologists’ and radiological centers’errors in the sphere of the civil law that establishes monetary indemnity as a consequence of the existence of civilliability. That is to say that the duty to indemnify arises from the testifying of the existence of civil liability. Thus, once thecivil liability is removed, the duty to indemnify comes to an end. Indemnity should not be confused with civil liability; thelatter is the foundation of the former.Keywords: Medical error; Mammography, Breast cancer; Civil liability.ResumoAbstract