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Medical Expert Witness Describes Effects of Stroke


A medical expert witness is hired for cases where the plaintiff suffered stroke to explain the effects of these conditions, how they harm the person that was a patient and how the hospital or doctor may have been to blame for the situation. His or her expertise is needed so the judge or jury are informed of matters they may have no information on and why they are important.

Medical experts with a background in neurology are hired based on skill, training and knowledge in how diseases, medical conditions and injuries lead to a stroke. Some of these factors are hereditary, but others are due to disease or life situations. When someone has been eating, drinking or exercising incorrectly, a stroke could occur. However, others are harmed in just the right way for a stroke to become likely or the inevitable outcome of an injury. The medical experts hired for these claims understand these variables and are able to explain them to the judge or jury.

Hiring the expert may become difficult if the lawyer is unaware of what type of stroke professional he or she requires for the case. Some specialize in the treatment, surgery, the theory behind these conditions, cancer and other relevant circumstances. It is imperative that the diagnosis
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was correct, the client has not died so he or she could explain the patient care and that other professionals explain the appropriate information so the proper expert is hired. However, if the individual is not the relevant person, he or she may become a consultant. Once the professional becomes part of the claim, he or she may break down the surgery or treatment to discover if any mistakes or negligence was involved.

Types of Medical Expert

When hiring an expert witness that must describe the stroke, effects of the condition, injuries that could cause it or other issues that may result in a stroke, the lawyer must ensure he or she has hired the correct professional. This is usually someone with a Neurology background. Someone that understands the conditions of the stroke, has had training in these matters and knows why the stroke victim needs compensation once the injury or health ailment transpires. The lack of work is one of the primary concerns after the incident. The expert explains this to the courtroom and how the plaintiff is able to recover with a certain amount of monetary compensation received.

The type of professional that must be hired depends on what type of treatment was received, the malpractice case or how the injury occurred. For surgery, a Neurosurgery specialist may be the right fit. However, many chosen for these cases are either Neurology or Neurologist specialists with extensive experience and skills through training and education in the relevant fields. When the stroke may affect the mental state or capacity, a Neuropsychologist could be the better choice. However, it may be best to consult with multiple experts initially to ascertain the best type of expert to hire for the case.

Testimony of a Medical Expert for Strokes

The primary purpose of hiring the medical expert for the case and to present testimony is so that the court may understand the medical evidence within the claim and know what medical facts are pertinent. Sometimes this involves medical malpractice claims, and the expert is tasked with giving an opinion on the possible negligence that lead to the injury to the patient. He or she may need to provide a prognosis, the current and previous clinical status and the cause of the injury. Other details are often necessary such as the standards of care in the hospital, violations of these standards if incurred and if these are why the harm was caused to the patient.

A medical evaluation is needed for the legal proceeding. This should involve a personal interview with the injured person, examination and assessment of medical records, laboratory tests, imaging studies and other data. The medical expert then forms an expert opinion based on these details. The information is communicated to the lawyer, the courts, licensing boards attached to the location, any peer review bodies connected and any similar agencies or authorities. Additional information may be supplied during testimony and if a report is created, these details are described with clarity in the document. Through supplying the courtroom with this, it is possible that the judge or jury may deliberate with all necessary info to ensure the outcome is appropriate based on what has been supplied.


Provided by HG.org


Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer.

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