Index

• Library: Medical Malpractice Law in Virginia (Virginia CLE) (2017 Ed.)

INDEX|

References are to pages

ACCIDENT AND INJURY HISTORY	122, 324
ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIM	48, 50
ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE
"Shopbook rule"	469
Admission by party opponent	470
Business records rule	469
Defendant's background	476
Demonstrative evidence	473
Expert opinion	32, 49
Expression of sympathy	35
Habit evidence	475
Interrogatories	286
Judicial authority at hearing	10, 14, 16
Medical literature	471
Medical records	38, 166
Negligence of nonparties	474
Panel opinion	17
Patient's awareness of risk	476
Vital statistics records	171
ADULT HOMES	4
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES
Basis for	321
Federal Tort Claims Act	46
Medical Malpractice Act	6
AGENCY. See VICARIOUS LIABILITY
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION	424
ARBITRATION	432
ASSAULT AND BATTERY
Generally	105
Expert testimony	107
Informed consent	107
Medical Malpractice Act	4, 106
ASSUMPTION OF RISK	6
ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE
Generally	283, 296
Institutional client	137
AUDIT LOGS	175

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AUTOPSY REPORTS	172, 308, 326
BACKGROUND. See INVESTIGATION OF FACTUAL
BACKGROUND
BIRTH-RELATED NEUROLOGICAL INJURIES. See VIRGINIA
BIRTH-RELATED NEUROLOGICAL INJURY
COMPENSATION ACT
BURDEN OF PROOF
Generally	324
Affirmative defenses	321
Discovery	284, 296
Expert qualifications	23, 461
Federal Tort Claims Act	46
Vicarious liability	113
CAUSATION
Generally	468
Cross-examination of plaintiff's expert	494
Expert testimony	179
Federal Tort Claims Act	49
Informed consent	108
Jury instructions
Concurring and supervening causes	480
Proximate cause	479
CAUSE OF ACTION
Assignment of	444
Federal Tort Claims Act	47
Medical Malpractice Act	2
Persons under disability	44
CHARITABLE IMMUNITY	98
CLAIMS HISTORY	324
CLIENT INTERVIEW
Generally	121
Client contributions (plaintiff)
At initial interview	124
Evidence	124
Medical records	124
Potential witnesses	124
Disclosure to client (plaintiff)
Advice	125
Difficulty of medical malpractice cases	125
Informed consent	125
Procedure	126
Statute of limitations	126

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Strengths and weaknesses of case	126
Written opinions	126
Evaluation of case through	122
Initial interview (plaintiff)
Agreement with client	122
Client questionnaire	122
Credibility
Of claim	123
Of client	122
Initial meeting (defendant)
Generally	131
Case overview	133
Conclusion of	137
File review	130
Insurer contact	129
Insurer meeting	129
Medical records review	130
Medical research	130
Participants	131, 132
Plaintiff contact	129
Purpose of	131
Timetable	136
Topics to cover	133
Institutional client	137
Referral of case (defendant)
Generally	128
Case status	128
Client contact	128
Initial communication	128
Turning case down (plaintiff)
Letter regarding	127
Retaining files	127
Statute of limitations	127
CLOSING ARGUMENTS
Discussion of money	482, 515
Planning	481, 513
Use of emotion	481, 515
Use of instructions	481, 514
COBRA	81, 309, 440

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COMPLAINT
Analysis by defendant	130
Federal Tort Claims Act	51
Medical Malpractice Act	6
COMPLICATION RATES	477
COMPUTERS
Animations	472
Medline search	159
Use of in presenting evidence	472
CONCEALMENT
Statute of limitations	42, 83
CONSOLIDATED OMNIBUS BUDGET RECONCILIATION
ACT	81, 309, 440
CONTINUING TREATMENT EXCEPTION
Federal Tort Claims Act	47
Statute of limitations	85, 126
CONTRACT CLAIMS	2, 82
CONTRIBUTION	94
CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE
As affirmative defense	6
Damages	93
COVERAGE DISPUTES	320
CROSS-EXAMINATION
Introducing medical literature	472, 505
Medical malpractice review panel	15
Of defendant during plaintiff's case-in-chief	490
Of defendant's experts
Generally	473
Basis of opinion	474
Bias	474
Opinion itself	474
Qualifications	473
Of plaintiff's experts
Causation	494
Damages	499
Daubert challenges	498
Standard of care	494
Of plaintiff's fact witnesses
Family members	494
Plaintiff	492
DAMAGES
Cap	18, 87, 446

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Contribution	94
Contributory negligence	93
Emotional distress	90
Indemnity	94
Limit on	18, 87, 446
Prejudgment interest	89
Punitive. See also PUNITIVE DAMAGES	88
Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Act	118
Virginia Tort Claims Act	53
Wrongful death	89
DAUBERT CHALLENGES	498
DEAD MAN'S STATUTE. See WRONGFUL DEATH
DEFENDANT. See also DEFENDANT'S PERSPECTIVE
As adverse witness	458
Death of	43
Evidence, submission of	12
Examination of, at trial	508
Professional qualifications and credentials	320
Written policies and procedures of	313
DEFENDANT'S PERSPECTIVE
Client interview
Initial meeting
Generally	131
Case overview	133
Conclusion of	137
File review	130
Insurer contact	129
Insurer meeting	129
Medical records review	130
Medical research	130
Participants	131, 132
Plaintiff contact	129
Purpose of	131
Timetable	136
Topics to cover	133
Institutional client	137
Referral of case
Generally	128
Case status	128
Client contact	128
Initial communication	128

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Investigation of factual background
Medical records
Obtaining	160
Release of confidential information	169
Subpoenas	170
Types of	170
Relevant documents
General medical information	178
Patient information	177
Practitioner information	178
Relating to incident	173
Standard of care	175
Testimonial evidence
Expert witnesses	179
Lay witnesses	179
Treating health care personnel	180
Negotiation and settlement
Generally	424
Strategies and tactics	428
Preserving issues for appeal	491
Trial
Closing arguments
Money, discussing	515
Objections	514
Planning	513
Use of emotion	515
Use of instructions	514
Cross-examination
Of defendant during plaintiff's case-in-chief	490
Of plaintiff's experts
Causation	494
Damages	499
Standard of care	494
Of plaintiff's fact witnesses
Family members	494
Plaintiff	492
Demonstrative evidence. See also VISUAL AIDS
Uses	507, 513
Examination of defendant	508

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Expert witnesses
Cross-examination of plaintiff's expert
Causation	494
Damages	499
Standard of care	494
Examination of defendant's expert
Bias	505
Medical literature	505
Qualifications	504
Theory	506
Jury instructions generally	477, 511
Motions to strike	502
Objections	491
Opening statements
Introduction	487
Legal concepts	489
Plaintiff's weaknesses	489
Presentation	488
Strategic planning
Generally	482
Jury, nature of	483, 484
Scheduling witnesses	484
Threshold issues	483
Voir dire
Jury selection	486
Preparation for	486
Witnesses
Order of	503, 504
Written discovery	323
DEFENSES. See AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES; RECOVERY AND DEFENSES
DEPOSITIONS	363
Compensation of witness	366
Decision to depose any party or witness	373
Defendant's perspective
Applicable law	405
Conducting the depositions
Forum	411
Information to obtain	410
Order of questions	409
Conducting the depositions:	409

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Defendant's depositions	411
Dual role of defendant	414
Expert witnesses	414, 416
Attorney work product	417
Incident reports	413
Interview as alternative to deposition	405
Meeting with the client	405
Meeting with the experts	405
Policies and procedures of defendant	413
Preparing for depositions
Deposition outline	409
Treating physician	409
Witness file	408
Reviewing the file	404
Timing of discovery	407
Ex parte	157
Institutional parties	137
Leading questions	368
Length of	364
Location	364
Medical malpractice review panel	10, 14
Methods of conducting	363
Number of	364
Objections
In general	369
Instructing witness not to answer	371
Not waived	371
Waiver	370
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