SERVICES
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Viability review
Viability review is one of the main focuses of Dr. Crosbie’s work.
The broad specialty of emergency medicine combined with Dr. Crosbie’s legal background and access to specialist colleagues allows for prompt and carefully considered screening opinions. Many cases brought to plaintiff firms are not viable. This does not mean the patient did not suffer harm – it just means that the legal standard for compensation cannot be met, and filing a claim would be unlikely to result in success.
Filing claims that are not viable can cost litigants and firms precious time and money. For plaintiff cases, Dr. Crosbie’s services focus on ensuring that large amounts of money will not be wasted on cases that are not viable from the outset. If an opinion is given that a case is likely to be viable, provision of expert opinion will be considered and/or referral will be made to other physicians as needed.
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Sourcing other experts
Often a medical malpractice case will involve more than one medical specialty. This can be because more than one defendant physician is directly involved in the case, or because the legal issues of standard of care and causation require different experts. Dr. Crosbie has a network of specialist colleagues to which she can refer for other expert opinion.
Review of claims and court documents
Dr. Crosbie has the expertise to understand legal documents. This allows her to make suggestions to ensure that the medical information sought to be conveyed is clear and accurate, and that no important facts are left out. Please note that Dr. Crosbie can only make suggestions, and that she does not draft legal documents.
Assistance in formulating questions for direct and cross examination
Dr. Crosbie will assist lawyers in preparing questions for direct and cross examination in preparation for discoveries, mediations and trials. Sometimes it is difficult for lawyers to obtain the information they need from a witness because the questions require an intricate understanding of the relevant medical issues, which most lawyers do not have. Lawyers need to understand and speak the language of the physician in order to successfully elicit the information they need for a case. Dr. Crosbie can provide guidance in this regard.
General advice as a case progresses
Dr. Crosbie is happy to act as a sounding board as a case progresses. For example, she is available to discuss and explain medical issues that come up, sometimes unexpectedly, in the course of litigation.
Preparation for discovery, mediation and trial
Preparation for these important steps in litigation can be stressful and time-consuming for lawyers. A dedicated physician with a broad understanding of medicine and law can help you develop strategy, re-focus on the key medical issues and relevant details, and ensure the judge or jury can relate to the medico-legal issues at hand. Dr. Crosbie is available to act as a dedicated consultant at flexible times to help lawyers prepare for these events.