Pathology Expert Witnesses
The insight attorneys need on wounds and diseases
Pathology is the branch of medical science that deals with the mechanisms of injury to cells and tissues, as well as the body’s means of responding to and repairing injury. It involves the examination of tissues, organs, and body fluids to diagnose and understand diseases at the cellular and molecular levels.
Pathologists are doctors who analyze specimens obtained through procedures such as biopsies, autopsies, and surgical resections to determine the nature and extent of diseases. They also perform laboratory tests and use specialized techniques such as immunohistochemistry and molecular biology to study disease processes.
Becoming a pathologist in the United States requires a medical degree (MD or DO) and a four-year residency program in pathology. Pathologists may also complete a one- to two-year fellowship program for additional training in a subspecialty. Subspecialties of pathology include:
- Anatomic pathology
- Clinical pathology
- Cytopathology
- Dermatopathology
- Forensic pathology
- Gynecologic pathology
- Hematopathology
- Molecular pathology
- Neuropathology
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology
- Psychopathology
Board Certification in pathology is administered by the American Board of Pathology (ABP), which is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Osteopathic pathologists may be Board Certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Pathology (AOBPa).
The role of a pathologist as an expert witness
Cases involving medical malpractice by a pathologist usually involve misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of a medical condition, errors in performing medical tests, or mishandling or contamination of specimens. In these situations, a Board-Certified pathologist can explain the applicable standards of care and offer an opinion on whether the defendant pathologist met or breached that standard of care. They can also explain the consequence of the breach and whether it led to a patient’s injury or illness.
Pathologists can also be valuable expert witnesses in personal injury and wrongful death matters because they are well-equipped to offer an opinion on causation. An experienced pathologist can review medical records, explain the likely cause of an injury or death, and help to establish whether negligence played a role.
Contact Rieback Medical-Legal Consultants today
For decades, we’ve worked with America’s finest attorneys in high-stakes medical malpractice and personal injury matters. Our network includes Board-Certified pathologists who are available for both consultation and deposition or trial testimony. To find out how we can help your firm, contact us for a free case summary review.