Facts To Understand Concerning A Medical Or Dental Expert Witness

August 22, 2011 | Author: Adriana Noton | Posted in Legal

A medical expert witness or a dental expert witness often testifies in court, to prove or disprove the nature of a medical claim. Such witnesses have knowledge or expertise beyond what is considered common, and their expertise is supported by their credentials, and experience, in their field. The best testimony delivered by experts is supported by scientifically accepted principles and methods, and is delivered in a manner that is easy for jurors to understand.

The role of medical expert witnesses are covered in Federal Rule 702. According to Rule 702, courts may admit testimony from experts, provided that certain conditions are met. All testimony, for instance, must be supported by sufficient qualitative facts and data. Additionally, the principles and methods used by experts must be those generally regarded as correct by scientists, and the principles and methods must be correctly applied to the case before the court.

Most experts have advanced degrees, and are highly regarded by their peers. Experts often publish peer-reviewed articles, teach courses, and conduct research in their fields. In all cases, experts must demonstrate thorough preparation, which includes a familiarity with all aspects of the case, and preparation to testify about the case.

Any physician expert witness must communicate clearly in court. Without oversimplifying information, which may cause jurors to doubt their credibility, experts must deliver testimony so that jurors will understand the important details. To avoid creating resentment among jurors, experts should take care not to exaggerate, or to boast about, their accomplishments.

Courts must officially qualify all experts, before testimony is admitted. Courts will consider the accomplishments, expertise, and training of experts, as related to the material in the case. Opposing lawyers may challenge the skills, training, education, and background of the candidate, before courts make their ruling.

Professionals may take several avenues to becoming court-qualified experts. By obtaining educational qualifications, updating their curriculum vitae, and obtaining industry certifications, professionals will establish themselves as highly-qualified members of their field. From there, professionals may try starting their own website, stating their availability to testify, or may hire a marketing firm, which will help them to both obtain clients and present their credentials in an effective manner.

Another avenue to becoming court-qualified is to sign up with an expert witness service. Services usually perform intake on cases, evaluating them for merit before passing them on to dental or medical experts. After receiving the case, experts may give a comprehensive opinion on the case, via affidavit, or verified report. Attorneys may have an established list of experts, or may contact experts via a qualified service.

The most effective medical expert witness or dental expert witness will give claims backed by the highest-quality evidence. The most effective witnesses also communicate appropriately with jurors, projecting their expertise, while making their work understandable. Attorneys may use experts based on a prior working relationship, or may contact experts via a service. A medical expert may have a significant impact on the results of a case, because their testimony tends to carry weight with the jury.

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Author: Adriana Noton

This author has published 30 articles so far. More info about the author is coming soon.

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