Several years ago, a plaintiff attorney asked if I could find an anesthesiology expert to review a medical malpractice case which was well underway. When I know an attorney, I don’t mind just giving him a name and CV, if able. But I’m still hesitant to recommend a potential testifying expert without first reviewing the case myself.
Proper vetting of a testifying expert is very time-consuming and many attorneys prefer to do that task themselves. But, for me to even preliminarily contact a potential expert, I need to know the facts of the case so I can intelligently go over the specifics with the expert, prior to making a referral.
Although I had a great anesthesiologist in mind the more questions I asked of the attorney, the more puzzled I became. The attorney finally got tired of my endless questions and sent me the medical records.
Basic facts of the case: A gentleman coded while in the special procedures room and had to be taken directly to surgery. He never regained consciousness and tubes were pulled a few days later.
Several very well-qualified physician experts in various specialties had already reviewed the file. I read several of the expert depositions.The defense repeatedly stated there were no code blue records, due to the code happening in the special treatment room. (RED FLAG) (more…)
