Medical malpractice

• Author: Evan Schaeffer
• Pages: 303-370

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

5-1

CHAPTER 5

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

I. THE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CAUSE OF ACTION

A. Theory of Recovery

§5:01 A Form of Negligence

§5:02 Duty

§5:03 Breach of Duty

§5:04 Practice Tip: Establishing Liability Without an Expert

§5:05 Cause in Fact

§5:06 Practice Tip: Jury Instructions

§5:07 Proximate Cause

§5:08 Damages

§5:09 Practice Tip: Case Selection

§5:10 Caution: Never Take a Medical Malpractice Case Hoping for a Quick Settlement

§5:11 Practice Tip: Explaining Medical Malpractice Cases to the Client

§5:12 Informed Consent

§5:13 Practice Tip: Hospital Liability

B. Typical Defenses

§5:20 Contributory Negligence/Comparative Fault

§5:21 Practice Tip: Procedurally-Based Defense Strategies

§5:22 Statute of Limitations

§5:23 Caution: Medical Malpractice “Reform”

§5:23.1 Practice Tip: Think About the Experts First

§5:24 Immunities

II. THE DISCOVERY PLAN

A. Sequence and Timing

§5:30 General Sequence

§5:31 Caution: Pre-Litigation Collection of Medical Records

§5:32 Interrogatories

§5:33 Requests for Production

§5:33.1 Practice Tip: Asking the Question, “ Who Would Remember?”

§5:34 Depositions

§5:34.1 Practice Tip: Seminars Concerning Depositions

§5:35 Requests for Admissions

§5:36 Written Discovery of Defendant’s Experts

§5:37 Practice Tip: Selecting Your Medical Expert

§5:37.1 Practice Tip: Selecting an Expert Who Has Testif‌ied for the Defense

§5:38 Caution: Don’t Wait Too Long to Consult an Expert

§5:39 Caution: Do Not Rely on Professional Testif‌iers

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

Deposition Checklists and Strategies 5-2

B. Documents and Exhibits

§5:50 Liability Documents

§5:51 Practice Tip: Organizing Medical Records

§5:52 Damage Documents

§5:52.1 Practice Tip: One Sign You’re “Winging It” at a Deposition

§5:53 Other Documents

§5:54 Practice Tip: Asking Your Opposing Counsel the Basis for His Form Objection

C. Typical Deponents

1. General Points

§5:60 Overview

§5:61 Practice Tip: Thinking in Reverse About the Witnesses

§5:62 Depositions the Defendant Will Take

§5:63 Practice Tip: The Locality Rule and Expert Witnesses

2. Occurrence Witnesses

§5:70 Deponents Who Witnessed the Alleged Malpractice

§5:71 Post-Occurrence Witnesses

3. Damage Witnesses

§5:80 Medical Witnesses

§5:81 Non-Medical Witnesses

4. Defendant’s Expert Witnesses

§5:90 General Points

§5:91 Medical Experts

§5:92 Non-Medical Damage Experts

III. SAMPLE DEPOSITION #1: DEFENDANT PHYSICIAN

A. Planning

§5:100 Overview

§5:101 Timing

B. Goals, Strategy, Preparation, and Exhibits

§5:110 Deposition Goals

§5:111 Deposition Strategy

§5:112 Practice Tip: The Diff‌icult Witness

§5:113 Deposition Preparation

§5:114 Practice Tip: Prepare for the Doctor-Defendant Like You Would an Expert

§5:115 Deposition Exhibits

C. The Deposition Outline

1. Background Facts and Thumbnail Outline

§5:120 Background Facts

§5:121 Thumbnail Outline/Deposition Checklist

2. Preliminary Questions and Witness Background

§5:130 Standard Introductory Questions

§5:131 Practice Tip: Shortening the Preliminary Questions

§5:131.1 Practice Tip: Consider Asking the Hardest Questions First

§5:132 The Witness’s CV

§5:133 Past Deposition and Trial Testimony

§5:133.1 Practice Tip: Arrive Early

§5:134 Background: Education, Work History, and Publications

§5:135 Background: Special Training

§5:136 Preparation for the Deposition

§5:136.1 Practice Tip: Ask about Medical Literature

§5:137 Other Experience With the Drug at Issue

3. Plaintiff ’s Medical Records

§5:150 Practice Tip: Examine the Doctor’s Original Medical Records

§5:151 The Medical Chart

§5:152 Handwriting

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

5-3 Medical Malpractice

4. Case-Specif‌ic Questions

§5:160 Information About Other Witnesses

§5:161 The Role of the Physician’s Assistant

§5:161.1 Practice Tip: Assessing the Defense in Light of Your Own Story

§5:162 Medical Treatment by Physician’s Assistant

5. Plaintiff ’s Treatment

§5:170 Treatment Provided to Plaintiff

§5:170.1 Practice Tip: What To Do When the Witness Asks You a Question

§5:171 Other Treatment Issues: The Prescription

6. Criticisms of Others

§5:180 Criticisms of Other Physicians

§5:180.1 Practice Tip: A Stipulation for Standing Objections

§5:181 Criticisms of the Plaintiff

§5:182 Practice Tip: Critical Questions for a Defendant Doctor

7. Witnesses and Statements

§5:190 Witness’s Conversations With the Plaintiff

§5:191 Practice Tip: Admissibility of Statements by Your Client

§5:192 Conversations About the Plaintiff With Others

§5:193 Statements the Witness Has Made

§5:194 Practice Tip: Peer Review

§5:195 Conversations With Sales Representatives

§5:196 Practice Tip: Closing a Topic

8. Opinion Testimony

§5:200 The Witness’s Opinions About Key Issues

§5:201 Practice Tip: The Defendant Who Is Qualif‌ied as an Expert

§5:202 Questions Suppor ting Your View of the Case

9. Closing

§5:210 Closing Questions

§5:211 Caution: Never Finish Until You’re Done

IV. SAMPLE DEPOSITION #2: ANOTHER DEFENDANT PHYSICIAN

A. Planning and Preparation

§5:220 Overview

§5:221 Timing

§5:221.1 Practice Tip: “Help Me Understand This”

§5:222 Goals, Strategy, Preparation, and Exhibits

§5:223 Practice Tip: A Secret of the Best Depositions

B. The Deposition Outline

1. Background Facts and Thumbnail Outline

§5:230 Background Facts

§5:231 Thumbnail Outline/Deposition Checklist

2. Preliminary Questions and Witness Background

§5:240 Standard Introductory Questions

§5:241 The Witness’s CV

§5:242 Past Deposition and Trial Testimony

§5:243 Practice Tip: Prior Lawsuits

§5:244 Education

§5:244.1 Practice Tip: Never End a Deposition Prematurely

§5:245 Work Histor y

§5:246 Specialties

§5:246.1 Preparing for Expert Depositions: Spend Some Time Learning on Your Own

§5:247 Teaching and Publishing

§5:247.1 Practice Tip: Medical Terms for the Court Reporter

§5:248 Deposition Preparation