An MD with two decades of clinical experience, Dr. David H. Segal currently provides independent medical exam (IME) and medicolegal expert services from his solo neurosurgeon practice, Eastern Iowa Brain and Spine Surgery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A holder of a JD degree from the University of Iowa College of Law, David H. Segal, MD, is also an attorney at the Las Vegas, Nevada office of Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys, a personal injury law firm.
Depending on the state, personal injury attorneys or insurance companies can select medical expert witnesses. Taking the stand can be a highly stressful experience. The following are three tips to help you stay calm and be an effective medical expert witness:
1. Stay in Your Area of Expertise
Witnesses have no control over the questions attorneys will ask them. However, they can control how to respond to them. Avoid making any guesses or raising speculations. If a question is outside your field of expertise and you feel unsure about its answer, simply state so.
2. Be an Educator, not an Advocate
Your primary goal as a medical expert witness is to share your knowledge understandably with people who lack it. In short, to educate them. The role of an advocate is for the attorneys. By assuming the role of an educator, you will render your testimony more credible and compelling.
3. Consider Your Audience
Do not forget that jurors strive to make the right choice but do not have medical knowledge. To help them reach an informed decision, do your best to simplify complex medical terms. Also, try to avoid lengthy explanations. The practice shows that shorter and more straightforward answers fare better.
