To the Editor:—
Relative to Dr. Hartzell's communication "To Err With Air" in the Feb 8, 1964, issue (JAMA187:455) and the discussion in the May 25, 1964, issue (JAMA188:762), it seems to me that all the discussants have missed the point.The question comes up, what is a radiologist? Is he a true consultant, ie, are patients referred to him with certain details of the clinical findings and an outline of the problem, his opinion to be submitted as a report to the referring physician? Or is he a glorified super radiographer making a series of films to be submitted to the physician with a report which may be ignored?As a consultant, the radiologist is justified in using any method of examination he desires, including fluoroscopy with adequate palpation, double contrast studies, high voltage techniques, or a combination of any of these. At any rate,