Lawyers' Guide to Medical Proof

VOLUME 1

PART 1 HOW THE LAWYER MUST LOOK AT MEDICINE: A BASIC ORIENTATION
CHAPTER 101 The Courtroom Search for “Medical Truth”
CHAPTER 102 The Doctor as the Opinion Tool
CHAPTER 103 Source of Medical Knowledge: The Medical Literature
CHAPTER 104 The Medical Specialties
CHAPTER 105 The Roots of Medical Vocabulary
CHAPTER 106 Medical Acronym and Abbreviation: Short-Cutting the Medical Vocabulary
CHAPTER 106A Trial Lawyers’ Guide to Generic Pharmaceuticals
CHAPTER 106B Glossary of Medical Instruments
CHAPTER 107 Standardized Classification Systems of Terminology, Procedures and Severity
CHAPTER 108 Using the Medical Records to Establish the Parameters of Your Medico-Legal Case
CHAPTER 109 Fraudulent Medical Records
CHAPTER 109A Altered Medical Records: The Document Examiner on the Witness Stand
CHAPTER 110 Translating the Medical Dialect: Operation Record
CHAPTER 111 Translating the Medical Dialect: Discharge Summary
CHAPTER 112 The Neuropsychological Evaluation Report
CHAPTER 113 Independent Medical Witness' Records Excluded from Exhibits
CHAPTERS 114--117 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 118 Using Medical Learned Treatises as Substantive Evidence
CHAPTER 119 Case Evaluation: Using Biomechanical Experts to Assess the Value of a Potential Lawsuit
CHAPTER 120 Analyzing, Evaluating and Planning Your Medico-Legal Case
CHAPTER 121 Stating the Theory of Your Case
CHAPTER 122 Data Base for the Theory of Your Case
CHAPTER 123 Nail Down Your Medical Claims
CHAPTER 124 Analyzing, Evaluating and Planning Your Wrongful Death Case: The Autopsy Protocol (Report)
CHAPTER 125 Biomechanical Analysis of Autopsy Findings in Wrongful Death Case from Three-Impact Crash
CHAPTER 126 Finding and Retaining Expert Witnesses
CHAPTER 127 Medical Malpractice Under the Federal Tort Claims Act--Failure to Diagnose Craniopharyngioma

PART 2 THE CLINICAL PICTURE: SEARCH FOR A DIAGNOSIS
CHAPTER 200 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 201 The Medical History
CHAPTER 202 The Physical Examination

VOLUME 2

PART 3 THE NEUROLOGICAL SIGNS
CHAPTER 203 The Importance of thorough Clinical Examination in Cases of Low Back Pain: Using the Examination Report to Confirm Injury and Establish Severity
CHAPTERS 204--209 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 210 Courtroom Use of Medical History: Inept Technique
CHAPTER 211 Courtroom Use of Medical History In Hypertension Case: “Before and After” Posture
CHAPTER 212 Proving “Pain” with the Medical History
CHAPTER 213 Using Medical History to Establish Legal Proximate Cause
CHAPTER 214 Presenting the Medical History and Physical Examination Report: Keeping it Interesting
CHAPTERS 215--299 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 300 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 301 The Neurological Examination
CHAPTER 302 The Cranial Nerves
CHAPTER 303 Mental Status Examination
CHAPTER 304 Converting the Neurological Examination into Tools of Courtroom Proof
CHAPTER 305 The Neurologist in Court: A Witness of Glamour--A Low Back Case
CHAPTER 306 The Neurologist in Court: Cranial Nerve Injury
CHAPTER 307 Injuries to the Cranial Nerves
CHAPTER 308 Spinal Cord Conditions
CHAPTER 309 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 310 The Negative Neurological Examination: Defendant’s Use in Soft Tissue Cases
CHAPTER 311 Smothering the Neurological Report
CHAPTER 312 The Neurological Report: Doctor, What Does That Mean?
CHAPTERS 313--319 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 320 Workers’ Compensation Hearing: Defendant’s Combination of History and Physical and Neurological Examinations to Negate Work-Related Medical Residuals
CHAPTER 321 Claimant’s Compensation Appeal: Treatment for Work Injury, Residuals Curative or Palliative
CHAPTER 322 Permanent Nerve Injury from Norplant Rods Insertion and Standards of Care
CHAPTERS 323--399 [RESERVED]

PART 4 CLINICAL LABORATORY MEDICINE
CHAPTER 400--401 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 401 Clinical Laboratory Organization and Procedures
CHAPTER 402 Hematology: Using Elevated White Blood Count To Prove Infection and Sustain Permanent Residuals of Intestinal Adhesions
CHAPTER 403 Blood Bank: Blood Transfusion Accident Causing Woman’s Inability to Bear Children
CHAPTER 404 Bacteriology and Antibiotics: Using Laboratory Report on Bacteriology to Prove Cause of Death in Automobile Accident Wrongful Death
CHAPTER 405 Serology: Latent Medical Residuals As Direct and Probable Sequalae of Precipitating Injury
CHAPTER 406 Liver Function Tests
CHAPTERS 407--409 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 410 The Medico-Legal Status of DNA
CHAPTER 411 Voir Dire for Admissibility of DNA Evidence
CHAPTERS 412--499 [RESERVED]

VOLUME 3

PART 5 DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING
CHAPTER 500 Efforts to Look Inside a Live Body
CHAPTER 501 DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING: What Can and Cannot Be Seen by X-Ray
CHAPTER 502 DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING: The X-ray Contrast Media: Myelography
CHAPTER 503 Special Imaging Techniques: Tomography and Stereoscopy
CHAPTER 504 Affirmative Use of the Negative X-Ray
CHAPTER 505 Defendant's Radiologist: Proving that Accident Did Not Aggravate Pre-Existing Spondylolisthesis
CHAPTERS 506--509 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 510 Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine
CHAPTERS 511--514 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 515 DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING: MEDICO-LEGAL POTENTIALS OF ULTRASOUND
CHAPTERS 516--519 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 520 Diagnostic Imaging: Thermography
CHAPTER 521 Courtroom Use of Tele-Electronic and Black-and-White Thermography
CHAPTER 522 Functional Brain Imaging in the Post-Daubert Courtroom
CHAPTERS 523--529 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 530 Arthroscopy
CHAPTER 531 Knee and Shoulder Injury: Multiple Test and Knee Arthroscopy
CHAPTER 532 Problems of Proof: Failure to Scope Esophagus
CHAPTERS 533--599 [RESERVED]

PART 6 ELECTRODIAGNOSIS
CHAPTER 600 The Electrical Components
CHAPTER 601 The Electrocardiograph(EKG)
CHAPTER 602 The Electroencephalogram (EEG)
CHAPTER 603 Electromyography (EMG)
CHAPTERS 604--699 [RESERVED]

PART 7 THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS
CHAPTER 700 Clinical Psychology and Psychological Testing and Assessment
CHAPTER 701--702 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 703 Psychological Tests: Personality
CHAPTER 704 Neuropsychological Assessment of Brain Impairment
CHAPTER 705 Neuropsychological Tests for Brain Injuries: General Considerations
CHAPTER 706 Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery

VOLUME 4

PART 8 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 707 The Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery
CHAPTER 708 Brain Injury Assessment: Other Specific Tests
CHAPTER 709 Courtroom Conversion of Psychological Evidence
CHAPTER 710 Wrongful Death: The Psychological Autopsy
CHAPTER 711 The Psychiatrist’s Testimony: Explaining Traumatic Amnesia
CHAPTER 712 Traumatic Brain Damage: Damages, Rehabilitation, and Litigation Issues
CHAPTER 713 Proving Damage to the Personality
CHAPTER 714 Psychiatrist’s Report: Employment Harassment Case
CHAPTER 715 Psychologist’s Testimony: Vocational Assessment of Accident-Related Stroke Victim
CHAPTER 716 Deposing Mental Health Experts on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
CHAPTER 717 Brain Fingerprinting: Inventorying a Subject's Memory
CHAPTER 800 [RESERVED]

PART 9 SELECTING THE DIAGNOSIS
CHAPTER 900 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 901 The Doctor’s Thinking Processes
CHAPTER 902 Doctors as Diagnosticians: Diagnosing Arthritis
CHAPTER 903 Causation
CHAPTERS 904--909 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 910 Diagnosing The Malingerer: The Lawyer’s Problem
CHAPTER 911 Proving the Diagnosis: The Difficulty in Establishing Shaken Baby Syndrome
CHAPTERS 912--999 [RESERVED]

PART 10 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 1000 [RESERVED]

PART 11 THE PHYSICAL MECHANISMS OF TRAUMA
CHAPTER 1100 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 1101 Specific Entities: Serious Neck Injury (SNI)
CHAPTER 1102 Specific Entities: Cervical Whiplash: Tactical Use of the Video Deposition
CHAPTER 1103 Specific Entities: Cervical Whiplash: The Chiropractor as Your Main "Medical" Expert
CHAPTER 1104 Specific Entities: The Silicone Implant “Crisis”
CHAPTER 1105 Mechanism of Nerve Injury from Injection of Colchicine
CHAPTER 1106 Specific Entities: Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
CHAPTERS 1107--1199 [RESERVED]

PART 12 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 1200 [RESERVED]

PART 13 PRE-TRIAL ACTIVITIES
CHAPTER 1300 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 1301 Written Interrogatories Medical Malpractice Case
CHAPTER 1302 Deposing the Medical Witness
CHAPTER 1303 Deposing the Doctor-Defendant
CHAPTER 1304 Benefits and Dangers Inherent in Conducting Depositions: Deposition of Obstetrician Regarding Decision to Forego Caesarean Section on Breach Delivery
CHAPTER 1305 Settlement--Conference and Brief

VOLUME 5

PART 14 THE RELATED MEDICAL SPECIALTIES
CHAPTER 1306 The Settlement Conference Brief: Multi-Party, Complex Case
CHAPTERS 1307--1309 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 1310 Protecting Your Own Witnesses at Deposition
CHAPTERS 1311--1314 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 1315 Trial Brief on the Medical Facts
CHAPTERS 1316--1319 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 1320 Deposing the Medical Witness
CHAPTER 1321 “Telejustice”: Expert Testimony Using Live Video Conferencing
CHAPTER 1322 $2.6 Million Verdict for Burn Injuries
CHAPTER 1323 Representing Clients Injured Due To Their Participation in Medical Research
CHAPTERS 1324--1399 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 1400 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 1401 Forensic Toxicology
CHAPTER 1402 Lead Poisoning
CHAPTER 1403 Scientifically Identifying Controlled Substances
CHAPTER 1404 The Case History Report: Organic Mental Disorder Secondary to Solvent Exposure
CHAPTER 1405 Use of Expert Testimony Relating to Sports and Recreational Injuries
CHAPTER 1406 Failure of an Infant Incubator in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Testimony of the Defendant’s Engineering Expert
CHAPTER 1407 Handling the Food-Borne Illness Case
CHAPTER 1408 Examining the ENT Report
CHAPTER 1409 Pharmaceutical Products Liability: Can a Tetanus Vaccine Cause Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
CHAPTER 1410 Toxic Torts: Medical and Scientific Evidence for the Plaintiff’s Case

PART 15 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 1500 [RESERVED]

PART 16 PREPARING FOR TRIAL: CONVERTING MEDICINE’S TOOLS INTO COURTROOM TOOLS
CHAPTER 1600 Preparing the Medical Expert for Trial
CHAPTER 1601 The Medical Report: When to Keep It Brief
CHAPTER 1602 The Medical Report: When to Use a Long Form
CHAPTER 1603 Making the Most of the Medico-Legal Report: Quantifying Damages
CHAPTER 1604 Defendant’s Medico-Legal Medical Report: Partisan Argument Against Medical Causation
CHAPTER 1605 Toxico-Legal, Toxicological Medical Report: Neuropsychological Assessment After Organic Solvent Exposure
CHAPTER 1606 Making Your Medical Witness Believable: Voir Dire
CHAPTER 1607 Analyzing the Emergency Department Record: Uncovering Facts and Avoiding Costly Mistakes
CHAPTERS 1608--1609 RESERVED
CHAPTER 1610 Deposition: Your Chief Pre-Trial Exploratory Tool
CHAPTER 1611 Deposing an Expert Witness in a Psychotherapeutic Malpractice Case
CHAPTERS 1612--1699 [RESERVED]

PART 17 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 1700 [RESERVED]

PART 18 ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR)
CHAPTER 1800 Quickness, But with Justice for All
CHAPTER 1801 Medico-Legal Theory of the Case
CHAPTER 1802 Claimant’s Written Statement
CHAPTER 1803 Claimant’s Written Statement: Proving Damages for Psychological Residuals--“Zone of Danger”
CHAPTER 1804 Claimant’s Statement: Where The Only Question Is Extent of Medical Residuals and Disability Evaluation
CHAPTER 1805 Digging Out the Medical Facts: Arbitrators/Mediators Won't Read Handwritten Medical Notes or Plow Through Unorganized Typed Pages
CHAPTER 1806 Claimant’s Statement: The Notebook Approach
CHAPTER 1807 ADR Depositions: Need For A Carefully Planned Format
CHAPTER 1808 ADR: Combining Doctor’s Medical Report with Opponent’s Deposition to Achieve Persuasive Advocacy
CHAPTER 1809 ADR: Plan Deposition to Preserve Testimony for ADR Use
CHAPTER 1810 Converting Doctor’s Medico-Legal Report into Persuasive Claimant's Statement: Disability from Chemical Exposures at Work
CHAPTER 1811 Converting the Non-Examining Doctor's Report: Wrongful Death (Suicide)
CHAPTERS 1812--1899 [RESERVED]

PART 19 WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
CHAPTER 1900 [RESERVED]
   CHAPTER 1901 Back Injury at Work from Operating Heavy Equipment
CHAPTER 1902 Claimant’s Successful Treatment Proves Work Injury
CHAPTER 1903 Cross Examination Of Employer’s Panel Witness on One-Time Evaluation of Industrial Injury
CHAPTERS 1904--1999 RESERVED

PART 20 EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY
CHAPTER 2000 Courtroom Goal: To Involve and Entertain the Jury
CHAPTER 2001 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 2002 Effective Examination of Treating Physician: Comminuted Fracture of Distal Radius
CHAPTER 2003 Putting Defense Witness to Work for the Plaintiff: Testimony of Obstetrical Expert in Case Involving Avoidable Premature Birth
CHAPTERS 2004--2099 [RESERVED]

PART 21 OPENING STATEMENT
CHAPTER 2100 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 2101 Prologue to the Play
CHAPTER 2102 Defendant’s Opening Statements
CHAPTER 2103 Opening Statement: Overcoming Hurdle of Legal Proximate Cause
CHAPTERS 2104--2199 [RESERVED]

VOLUME 6

PART 22 FINAL ARGUMENT
CHAPTER 2200 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 2201 Scripting the Case
CHAPTER 2202 Final Argument: Showing Proximate Cause
CHAPTER 2203 Arguing for Adequate Damages: The Long Argument
CHAPTER 2204 Defendant’s Effort to Mitigate Damages: Where Liability Must Be Admitted
CHAPTER 2205 Plaintiff’s Rebuttal Argument: The Time for Righteous Indignation
CHAPTER 2206 Arguing for Adequate Damages: The Short, “Uncomplicated” Argument
CHAPTER 2207 Plaintiff’s Final Argument: Precipitation of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) By Slip-and-Fall
CHAPTER 2208 Defendant’s Final Argument: “Coincidence?”
CHAPTER 2209 Plaintiff’s Rebuttal Argument: Keep It Short and Indignant!
CHAPTER 2210 Defendant’s Final Argument: Confuse! Confuse! Confuse!
CHAPTER 2211 Plaintiff’s Rebuttal Argument: A Matter of Credibility
CHAPTER 2212 Plaintiff’s Final Argument: Wrongful Death: Costing Out A Human Being at $3.2 Million
CHAPTER 2213 Plaintiff’s Rebuttal Argument: Dramatic Use of Demonstrative Aids and Word Images
CHAPTER 2214 Plaintiff’s Final Argument: Plaintiff Has No Duty To Submit to Major Surgery
CHAPTER 2215 Plaintiff’s Rebuttal: Send Out the Jury with Your “Text” Ringing in Their Ears
CHAPTER 2216 Plaintiff’s Final Argument: Demonstrative Aids to Fortify Diagnosis
CHAPTER 2217 Defendant’s Final Argument: Demonstrative Aids To Confuse Diagnosis
CHAPTER 2218 Plaintiff’s Final Argument: Using Ridicule to Meet Defendant’s Canned, Stock Defense--and a “Lying” Doctor
CHAPTERS 2219--2299 [RESERVED]

PART 23 PLAINTIFF'S CASE-IN-CHIEF (MAIN CASE)
CHAPTER 2300 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 2301 The Dual Medical Residual Case: Amputation Plus Painful Phantom Limb
CHAPTER 2302 Meshing the Testimony of Several “Medical Witnesses”: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Syndrome) Case
CHAPTER 2303 Lead-Off Medical Witness: How to Combine Anatomy, Pathology, Treatment, Disability, and Causation-Loss of Eye
CHAPTER 2304 Laying the Foundation: The Testimony of Your Adverse Party
CHAPTER 2305 Special Problems with the Totally Disabled Plaintiff: The Quadriplegic
CHAPTER 2306 Special Problems of Proof: Handling the Child Plaintiff-Witness
CHAPTERS 2307--2399 [RESERVED]

PART 24 DEFENDANT’S CASE-IN-CHIEF (MAIN CASE)
CHAPTER 2400 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 2401 The Affirmative Posture: Plaintiff Is An Exaggerator, Perhaps Malingerer
CHAPTERS 2402--2499 [RESERVED]

PART 25 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 2500 [RESERVED]

PART 26 SPECIAL COURTROOM TOOLS: NURSES AS WITNESSES
CHAPTER 2600 Nurse’s Testimony: Neglected Medico-Legal Tool
CHAPTER 2601 Nurse’s Testimony: To Show Patient’s Failing Condition
CHAPTER 2602 Nurse’s Testimony: Deposing the Nurse
CHAPTER 2603 Nurse’s Testimony: Failure to Adequately Monitor Patient in Medical Malpractice Case
CHAPTER 2604 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 2605 The Physical Therapist: Defendant’ Deposition to Show Ability to Return to Work in Workers’ Comp Case
CHAPTER 2606 The Legal Nurse Consultant: Case Management and Trial Preparation
Chapters 2607--2699 RESERVED

VOLUME 7

PART 27 PERSUASIVE NON-VERBAL COURTROOM TECHNIQUES
CHAPTER 2700 Motion, Flow, Action and Visual Aids
CHAPTER 2701 Showing the Anatomy and Pathology: Loss of Eye
CHAPTER 2702 Showing the Anatomy and Pathology: Scalenus Anticus Syndrome
CHAPTER 2703 Showing Anatomy and Physiology: High Tech
CHAPTERS 2704--2709 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 2710 Courtroom Demonstrations of Medical Residuals: Plan Them Carefully!
CHAPTER 2711 Animation in the Courtroom

PART 28 SPECIAL COURTROOM TOOLS: PROVING FINANCIAL LOSS
CHAPTER 2800 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 2801 Proving Damaged Employability
CHAPTER 2802 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 2803 The Econometrician (Economist): Proving Economic Impairment
CHAPTER 2804 Converting the Economist’s Report Into Courtroom Proof: Abbreviated Approach
CHAPTER 2805 Converting the Economist’s Report Into Courtroom Proof
CHAPTER 2806 Rehabilitation Expert to Prove Loss of Future Earnings for the Plaintiff Without Earnings History
CHAPTER 2807 Use of Rehabilitative and Vocational Experts to Prove Present Value of Loss of Earnings and Future Rehabilitation
CHAPTERS 2808--2899 [RESERVED]

PART 29 QUESTION-ANSWER TECHNIQUE
CHAPTER 2900 The Lawyer’s Prime In-Court Tool
CHAPTER 2901 Model Question-Answer Technique in Workers’ Compensation Hearing
CHAPTER 2902 Short, Snappy Questions in Deposition: Workers’ Compensation Case
CHAPTER 2903 Deposition Technique in Pharmaceutical Products Liability Case: Valvular Abnormalities and Abnormalities of the Heart Associated With Use of “Fen-Phen“
CHAPTER 2904 [RESERVED]
CHAPTER 2905 Question-Answer Technique: Fuzzy, Vague Questions Lead to Same Type of Presentation
CHAPTER 2906 89 Transcript Pages of Mush: The Importance of Focus
CHAPTERS 2907--2999 [RESERVED]

PART 30 IMPEACHMENT
CHAPTER 3000 Impeachment Goals
CHAPTER 3001 Cross Examination: Major Goal: Narrow the Conflict
CHAPTER 3002 Cross Examiner’s Two Cardinal Sins: What Not To Do
CHAPTER 3003 Cross-Examination: The Non-Treating Doctor
CHAPTER 3004 Cross Examination of Examining Physician: Impeaching Witness Who Performed “Incomplete” Physical Examination
CHAPTER 3005 Cross Examination: Possible Performance Errors
CHAPTER 3006 Cross-Examination: “Buying” the Doctor’s Testimony
CHAPTER 3007 Cross-Examination: Prior Inconsistent Statement
CHAPTER 3008 Cross-Examination: The Patient’s Subjective Responses
CHAPTER 3009 Cross Examination: Differences of Medical Opinion
CHAPTER 3010 Cross-Examination: Inadequate Differential Diagnosis
CHAPTER 3011 Cross-Examination: Transforming the Hostile “Paid Gun” into Your Own Witness: Cross-Examination by Leonard Decof
CHAPTER 3012 Cross-Examination: Using the Medical Literature
CHAPTER 3013 Cross-Examination: Laying the Foundation To Impeach on Altered Medical Records
CHAPTER 3014 Cross Examination: The Doctor Who Lies About His American Board Examinations
CHAPTER 3015 Cross Examination: The Over-Specialized “Hybrid” Witness Who Examines One Time Only

PARTS 31--39 [RESERVED]
CHAPTERS 3016--3999 [RESERVED]

PART 40 REHABILITATING YOUR MEDICAL WITNESS
CHAPTER 4000 Rehabilitation Goals
CHAPTER 4001 Opening the Door by Ineffective Efforts at Rehabilitation
CHAPTER 4002 The Credentialed Expert as Ineffective Witness: How a Prominent Prostate Cancer Specialist Lost a Case for the Plaintiff
CHAPTERS 4003--4999 [RESERVED]
INDEX