Analysis of Long Term Care Falls

elderly at risk for falls

My preparation for being a long term care expert witness When I first became interested in becoming a long term care expert witness, I knew that I had to have ample education, and that being able to prevent long term care falls was important. I already had lots of letters after my name. I had…

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10 Tips for Writing a Polished Expert Witness Report

expert witness report

You are interested in writing a polished expert witness report. You know an expert witness’s report is one of the most critical documents in a medical malpractice suit. In states that require them, the report lays out the opinions of the expert witness. Once the report is written it becomes difficult if not impossible for…

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Expert Witnesses: Supporting Your Nursing Opinion

long term care

Expert witnesses need to provide an attorney with evidence to support their opinions. I am an independent legal nurse consultant with over a decade of experience who has reviewed dozens of expert cases and thousands of “behind the scenes” cases. I have provided deposition and trial testimony. Communicating this evidence of your opinion can be…

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Expert Witness Evaluation of Liability for Healthcare Fall

figure laying on ground

Injurious healthcare falls are one of the most common reasons why providers are sued. Spinal cord injuries, head injuries, and fractures make these serious cases for attorneys and nursing expert witnesses. Many states have regulations that govern who is qualified to act as a liability expert. These factors make a strong expert witness: a combination…

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Reporting expert witness opinions

You’ve gotten a case as a nursing expert witness. Now what? What are your expert witness opinions? Forming expert witness opinions Read all of the pertinent documents before you offer an opinion. It is rare that a nursing expert witness has to read every page of a medical record, and most attorneys would not be…

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Legal nurse consultants: How to lose a client in one report

Polish your Writing Skills course

Want repeat business? Do you want to know how to lose a client – so you don’t? Here are some report “don’ts”. Striking the wrong key Relying on the computer to function as the only proof reader of your LNC report is sure to miss a few common typographical or grammatical errors. An example I…

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Why doctors should not be testifying to nursing standards of care

nursing expert witness on stairs

Nurses are the right people to testify about nursing standards of care, right? It was not always so self-evident. We can thank the Sullivan case for reinforcing the validity of this approach. The Illinois case called Sullivan V. Edward Hospital, 806 NE 645 (Ill. 2004) involved a man who climbed over side rails and was…

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