For example, you can learn about medical charting errors that can improve documenting abilities in your own practice. Third, serving as an expert witness can be both educational and rewarding in non-financial ways. But the work primarily entails: (1) evaluating prospective cases (2) reviewing records and depositions (3) preparing a report and (4) discussing the case with counsel.
Yes, expert witnesses must occasionally testify in a deposition or at trial. 3 Most of these hours are billed at home during evenings and weekends. On average, oncology experts charge $500 per hour, and some charge more than $1,000 per hour. Second, in addition to fulfilling your civic duty, serving as an expert witness can be lucrative. Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD, PhD Tweet this quote Given the wide variety of legal and regulatory proceedings, most expert witnesses do not testify against other clinicians.
Warning label expert deposition code#
1 For example, the American Medical Association Code of Medical Ethics states that “as citizens and as professionals with specialized knowledge and experience, physicians have an obligation to assist in the administration of justice.” 2 Like voting and jury service, being an expert witness is part of what it means to be a good citizen. Dozens of medical societies’ ethics codes and position policies state that the public interest requires clinicians to serve as expert witnesses. First, oncologists have an ethical responsibility to facilitate legal and regulatory proceedings concerning cancer.
There are three main reasons to be an expert witness in a legal dispute. Should you become an expert witness in a legal proceeding? To help inform your decision, we have outlined key advantages and disadvantages of becoming an expert witness in a case. With increasing conflict related to liability and insurance coverage, the demand continues to grow for objective physicians who are not involved in a specific case, have no personal interest in the outcome of the case, and have expertise in the matter being litigated. Hundreds of oncologists are working “side gigs” as expert witnesses in a wide range of medicolegal settings.