The Investigative Committee of the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners has filed a formal Complaint against Dr. Srivathsa Chelur Veeraraghavan, M.D., alleging one violation of Nevada Revised Statutes related to Malpractice.

The investigation relates to a 48-year-old patient who fell on his right hand and was taken to Sunrise Hospital to evaluate the injury. X-rays were taken of the Patient’s right wrist in the hospital ER room. Per the complaint, Dr. Veeraraghavan reviewed the three views of X-rays and found no evidence of dislocation or fracture from his review of the tests. The ER physician discharged the Patient based on Dr. Veeraraghavan’s report. ER staff placed the Patient in a splint and asked the Patient to follow up with an orthopedic physician and his primary care physician. 

Two weeks later, additional X-rays were taken by the Patient’s primary care provider. These X-rays indicated a fracture dislocation of the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones and an avulsion fracture. Per the report, the earlier X-rays taken at Sunrise Hospital demonstrated the same changes. It is alleged patient injuries could not be timely or properly addressed in the hospital due to reliance by the ER physician on the incorrect reading of the Sunrise Hospital X-rays by Dr. Veeraraghavan.

Nevada Medical Practice Act defines malpractice as a physician’s failure to treat a patient to use the reasonable care, skill, or knowledge ordinarily used under similar circumstances. 

With the above-outlined facts, it is alleged that Dr. Veeraraghavan failed to use the reasonable care, skill, or knowledge ordinarily used under similar circumstances, as defined by the NV Medical Practice Act when rendering medical services to the said Patient when he improperly read an X-ray of Patient’s wrist and missed a fracture shown in X-ray. 

As required under the NV Medical Practice Act, Dr. Veeraraghavan is subject to discipline by the Medical Board. The Patient filed the lawsuit for the failure to diagnose displaced fractures of the right fifth metacarpal, resulting in permanent injury due to delayed treatment. The Medical Protective Company reported that the case was settled for $100,000.

Dr. Srivathsa Veeraraghavan graduated from Ross University, Rosseau, Dominica. He completed his internship and residency in radiology at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, and a fellowship in neuroradiology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.