0:01

So moving on in terms of working with the attorney,

0:05

whatever attorney it is,

0:07

you have an obligation right up front

0:09

to have a clear understanding of what your assignment is.

0:13

And as a radiologist, that's usually pretty clear.

0:16

I mean, I work with all specialties of medicine

0:18

and sometimes it, um, is a,

0:22

is different in different specialties.

0:24

I describe this as a, a four dimension,

0:28

fourth dimensional game of chess

0:30

because as one piece moves here, another piece moves here.

0:34

And, and we have to be able to keep all of you guys sort

0:38

of corralled in on the same page, um, in accordance

0:42

with your different specialties, with evolving facts

0:45

that become available.

0:47

So things do shift and understand that that's gonna happen.

0:50

And you just want to, you know, it's a process

0:52

through discovery of getting everybody on the same page for

0:57

moving forward to deposition and ultimately trial.

1:02

And one of the things that can happen

1:04

and does, you know, frequently happen in these cases is

1:09

that, you know,

1:10

and I tell my, I tell my clients, my plaintiffs, look,

1:13

I think you have a solid case.

1:15

I have worked with physicians who've reviewed your case.

1:18

They think that you have a solid case.

1:19

But understand that there may be

1:21

additional evidence that comes forward.

1:23

And we, you know, there may be something that says,

1:26

oh my gosh, the case is no longer that way

1:29

and we'll recommend it, you know, be dismissed.

1:32

That happens rarely

1:33

because normally I've vetted all that out

1:35

and sorted all that out

1:36

before we get to the point of filing a lawsuit.

1:39

Um, but sometimes it does happen.

1:41

And the same thing happens on the other side.

1:44

So the defense may come into this thinking, oh,

1:46

we've got a solid defensible case here.

1:48

We're marching forward and then I'm able

1:50

to produce something.

1:51

And it happens all the time.

1:53

Produce something that says, oh, okay, this is pretty clear

1:56

that there was malpractice.

1:58

Let's just go ahead and get this resolved

2:00

sooner rather than later.

2:01

So it happens on both sides.

2:03

Be aware that things change, evidence moves.

2:05

It's like a chess board in different dimensions,

2:08

and that's just part of the process.

2:10

Um, the other thing that I'll tell you, uh,

2:13

from a lawyer's perspective in working with physicians is

2:17

that if you're gonna do this work

2:19

and jump into it, be available, uh, don't make it hard

2:23

for us to get ahold you, ahold of you to find you.

2:26

Um, and in that regard, let us know

2:30

how you like to be contacted.

2:32

I have physicians across the country,

2:34

someone a text from me, they don't care what day

2:38

or time, weekend, evening, whatever.

2:40

Just send me a text. I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

2:43

Others want an email, someone a phone call.

2:46

So just let us know your preferred method

2:48

to get ahold of you.

2:50

If there's dates or times

2:51

or that are off limits, let us know.

2:54

Um, and then the reason why this is so important

2:59

Is because, you know,

3:01

our big thing in law is we have strict deadlines

3:05

and we have a lot of work to get ready for those deadlines.

3:09

And with changing information, new evidence that comes in,

3:12

this type of thing, we need to be able to get hold of you

3:15

so we can understand how that's going

3:17

to impact your opinions.

3:18

And then make sure your opinions are solid and

3:21

provided to opposing counsel in the court

3:24

within these strict deadlines.

3:26

So I don't tend to go back

3:28

and work with physicians who, you know, don't respond to,

3:32

you know, it takes three days a week,

3:33

sometimes several weeks to get back to me.

3:36

Um, I try to also let you know,

3:39

and you should also be willing to ask,

3:42

what are my deadlines in this case?

3:44

And by the time we're reaching out

3:45

and contacting you to review a case we typically know

3:49

or have a general idea what those deadlines are gonna be,

3:51

look at your calendar.

3:53

Can you support it? Can you not support it?

3:55

And then move forward.

3:57

I have, you know, great experts who will say, Hey, Kelly.

3:59

Yeah, but you know, I'm, I'm gonna be in Europe

4:01

during the time trial scheduled.

4:03

Well, you know, okay, I'll, I'll find someone else

4:06

for this one, whatever.

4:07

But know your schedule. Be willing to work with and,

4:11

and be responsive to the p

4:13

or to the attorney that's hired you.