0:00

As an expert witness, you not only have to deal

0:03

with the truth and with the images

0:04

and with the medical record, you have to deal

0:06

with the lawyers.

0:08

And sometimes lawyers are going to try

0:11

to put you their opinion into your mouth.

0:16

If that happens repeatedly

0:19

and is uncomfortable for you, I recommend

0:23

that you not work with that legal team.

0:26

Uh, obviously they have an objective there.

0:30

They're looking out for their client, which is their main

0:33

ethical obligation.

0:35

But if they are suggesting

0:40

that you not tell your full opinion,

0:44

and, uh, by that, by full opinion, I mean whether

0:48

or not there's a meaning of the standard of care, whether

0:50

or not the dis the deviation in the standard

0:55

of care caused the damages, um,

0:58

then you should probably back off.

1:02

Um, do not agree to say

1:03

or not say something that you think is relevant to the case.

1:08

So if it's true that the Ian had a brain tumor,

1:12

but it's your opinion that that brain tumor has grown

1:17

so slowly that the delay in detecting that brain tumor

1:23

had no relevance to the patient's prognosis, you should give

1:27

that opinion to the, to the legal team.

1:30

And if they say, well, we really don't want you to say

1:32

that at trial, I feel uncomfortable with that.

1:36

I said, because, you know, the opposing lawyer

1:38

is going to ask me that.

1:40

How, how rapidly does a meningioma grow?

1:44

And is the fact that it was discovered six months later

1:48

relevant to the patient's prognosis?

1:50

I have to say, you know, no, it's not

1:53

because meningiomas grow very slowly.

1:56

Remember that you're the radiology expert.

1:58

Only if they're asking you

1:59

to give opinions about neurosurgery care or nursing care

2:03

or emergency department care, uh, do not stray.

2:07

Say, I'm a radiologist. I don't practice emergency medicine.

2:10

Here's my opinion on the radiology.

2:13

But you may be useful to them in formulating their questions

2:18

for the experts in the other subspecialties,

2:22

and in particular in preparing them to depose the opposing

2:26

expert in radiology, provide them relevant images,

2:29

provide them with the literature

2:33

that supports your testimony.