Screen a Medical Expert Witness with 5 Easy Questions
from Mednick Associates
Qualified Medical Experts are key for any litigator facing trial. Learn some of the questions Mednick Associates, an industry leader for medical expert witnesses and legal nurse consulting, uses to help screen their medical experts.
New Canaan, CT (PRWEB) September 11, 2012
Locating a medical expert witness to provide an objective opinion is a crucial, make or break moment for your case. Just spending the hours and energy searching for and locating a medical expert who will review your case file is not enough. Asking the right questions via a proper screening process is as important as the search itself.
Mednick Associates, an industry leader in locating, screening and recommending medical experts has picked up a few pointers over the past 20 plus years. Below are five important questions their team of legal nurse consultants employ when screening potential experts. They also make sure to periodically verify and update these questions with their current expert network of over 2,000 physicians, nurses and technicians.
1) Are you board certified? At first glance this might seem elementary or a “given” when speaking with a well qualified medical professional. In fact, some MD’s practice an area of medicine for which they are trained and well qualified, but, technically, lack the board certification. For example, some surgeons may perform vascular procedures but are only boarded in general surgery, not vascular. Fine if you are in the operating room, but not necessarily in the courtroom.
2) Are you currently performing the procedure in question? Again, a simple question with potentially complex outcomes. A great example is an OBGYN. Some of the most qualified OBGYN’s have delivered over 10,000 babies, but now focus exclusively on gynecology. Depending on the expert witness laws in your state or the case in question, this may be a deal breaker.
3) Will you testify? Some medical experts will review records and provide an opinion but, for various reasons, will not testify. Even if you believe the case will not go to trial, it doesn’t hurt to know you have an expert who will be there if things change. At Mednick Associates, they ensure all of their medical experts are available to testify on behalf of their clients.
Asking the right questions via a proper screening process is as important as the search itself.
4)How flexible is your schedule? Medical professionals are extremely busy and have hectic, unpredictable schedules. A trial in their hometown may work, but we all know that is not always the case. Travelling across country, at the drop of a hat, after multiple court date cancellations, is a more accurate portrayal of reality. Make sure they can be there when you need them, literally.
5) Do you mind if I call you tomorrow at 2…AM? Well, maybe not 2AM, but nevertheless you need someone who is accessible as you approach trial, whether for a quick meeting, phone call or additional document review. Having a good working relationship can turn this answer from a no to a yes.
Mednick Associates, is a full service medical legal consulting firm, based in New Canaan, CT., specializing in medical expert witnesses and legal nurse consulting. Plaintiff and defense attorneys trust Mednick Associates experts to provide opinions on their medical malpractice, personal injury, mass tort, environmental, general liability and all other medical related litigation. After more than 20 years, they continue to leverage their knowledge of medical-legal case litigation by recommending only the most appropriate and highly credentialed medical experts for their clients. They manage the expert process for litigators, saving valuable time, money and resources.
Call 888-MEDNICK to learn more about their legal nurse consulting and medical expert resources. Get the right expert from Mednick Associates. On time. Every time.