When an expert is called to offer medical expert witness services in a legal setting, the opposing counsel will often attempt to discredit the expert's testimony. This can be done in several ways, but one common method is to review the expert's qualifications and experience. The opposing counsel may try to show that the expert is not qualified to render an opinion on the matter at hand or that the expert's experience does not support the opinion that they are giving.
To combat this, the party calling the expert will often conduct a review of the expert's qualifications and experience themselves. This review is known as an expert review. An expert review can be an important tool in helping to establish that the expert is qualified to testify and that their testimony is supported by their experience.
An expert review should include a thorough examination of the expert's qualifications and experience. It is important to note that an expert review is not just limited to the expert's qualifications and experience in the specific field relevant to the case. It should also include a review of the expert's general qualifications and experience. This will help to show that the expert is qualified to testify on any matter, not just the specific field of expertise that they are being called to testify on.
The expert review should also include a review of the expert's testimony in previous cases. This will help to show that the expert is familiar with the process of testifying in a legal setting and that their testimony is likely to be credible.
Finally, the expert review should include a review of the expert's published work. This will help to show that the expert is familiar with the research methodology used in their field and that they are capable of producing sound conclusions based on that research.
Once the expert review is complete, the party calling the expert will need to determine whether the expert is ready to testify. This involves deciding on whether the expert is competent and qualified to testify and whether their testimony will be helpful to the case.
If the party decides that the expert is not competent or qualified to testify, they may decide to withdraw the expert from the case. If the party decides that the expert's testimony will not be helpful, they may also decide to withdraw the expert from the case. You can learn more about this topic here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert_witness.
If the party decides that the expert is competent and qualified to testify and that their testimony will be helpful, they will need to prepare the expert for testifying in a legal setting. This includes preparing the expert for cross-examination by the opposing counsel.
The party calling the expert will also need to create a report summarizing the expert's qualifications and experience. This report will be used to introduce the expert to the court and to establish that their testimony is credible.
The expert review and testifying expert are two important steps in ensuring that the expert's testimony is credible and helpful to the case. By conducting an expert review and preparing the expert for testifying, the party calling the expert can ensure that their testimony will be taken seriously by the court.