The Care and Feeding of Expert Witnesses
The “care and feeding” of your expert witness or witnesses is one of the most important aspects of your case. Expert witnesses are utilized in most types of litigation, and in a North Carolina medical malpractice case, expert witnesses are almost mandatory. The manner in which an attorney first contacts an expert witness, particularly a physician, impacts greatly upon their willingness to testify. A poorly executed first contact or bad first impression will only decrease the
REFLEX SYMPATHETIC DYSTROPHY (RDS) – A MYSTERIOUS PAIN EXPLAINED
INTRODUCTION An otherwise healthy patient presents to the emergency department of her local hospital after falling onto her out-stretched arms. She has an obvious deformity of her wrist. The ER physician consults an Orthopedic surgeon who successfully reduces her broken wrist and places a cast over her wrist and lower arm. The patient is discharged home in good condition. Several days later she returns to her Orthopedist for a check-up; she has no complaints and is doing
THE FAILURE TO TIMELY DIAGNOSE
CAUDA EQUINA SYNDROME (CES)
IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND
ITS RELATED CON
INTRODUCTION A 25-year-old otherwise healthy male lifts a heavy piece of machinery while at work and immediately suffers low back and bilateral leg pain. The company physician places him on bed rest for one week. At the end of the week, the injured worker continues to experience both severe back and leg pain. He presents to his local emergency room with complaints of back and leg pain with no neurological findings except for a positive straight leg raise. He is discharged hom