However, the law also states that the result can be withheld temporarily if the radiologist believes that immediate disclosure would cause serious harm (e.g., triggering a suicidal crisis). This is extremely rare.

An estimated 40% of patients now view their radiology results online before their doctor does. In Angers, with its tech-savvy population (thanks to the presence of universities and research institutes like IRHS ), that number climbs to nearly 55% for patients under 50.

In Angers, the protocol is clear:

In practice, Angers radiologists are among the most transparent in France. The CHU even offers a télémédecine hotline where you can ask a radiologist to explain your report for a small fee (€15). The dark side of instant results is cyberchondria – the escalation of mild symptoms into terminal diseases via internet search.

A 2022 study by the University of Angers’ Faculty of Health found that 62% of patients who viewed their radiology results online then searched for their findings on Google. Of those, 78% reported increased anxiety. Only 12% actually had a serious condition.