Sleep Disorders Expert Witnesses
The insight attorneys need on insomnia, narcolepsy, and other disorders
Sleep disorders are a group of medical conditions that affect a person’s ability to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up feeling rested and refreshed. Some types of sleep disorders include:
- Insomnia: A common sleep disorder that makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.
- Sleep apnea: A disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, which can lead to snoring and daytime fatigue.
- Narcolepsy: A chronic neurological disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden bouts of sleep.
- Restless leg syndrome: A condition that causes an irresistible urge to move the legs, often accompanied by a tingling or burning sensation.
- Parasomnias: A group of sleep disorders that involve abnormal behavior during sleep, such as sleepwalking, night terrors, or sleep eating.
- Circadian rhythm disorders: A group of sleep disorders that affect the body's natural sleep-wake cycle, often caused by shift work or jet lag.
A sleep disorder specialist (SDS) is a respiratory therapist who has completed additional training and certification in sleep disorders. Certification for sleep disorder specialists is administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Certified sleep disorder specialists may be Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRT-SDS) or Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT-SDS). Sleep disorder specialists perform and score polysomnography tests, assist in diagnosing sleep disorders, and prepare treatment plans.
Sleep medicine physicians, also known as somnologists, have additional fellowship training in sleep disorders. Physicians specializing in treating sleep disorders come from numerous medical specialties, most commonly internal medicine, pediatrics, pulmonology, neurology, or psychiatry.
The role of a sleep disorder specialist as an expert witness
Many types of personal injury matters can involve sleep disorders, including injuries that affect breathing, as well as traumatic brain injuries that may cause insomnia or narcolepsy. A sleep disorders expert can assess the nature of the plaintiff’s sleep disorder and explain the cost of treatment and the long-term prognosis. Sleep disorder physicians can also explain the effects a sleep disorder may have on the plaintiff’s employment, relationships, and overall quality of life.
In addition, sleep disorder specialists and physicians are often called upon to testify in medical malpractice cases involving misdiagnosis or mismanagement of a sleep disorder. They can explain the applicable standards of care and opine on whether the defendant medical professional met or breached those standards.
Contact Rieback Medical-Legal Consultants today
We have decades of experience working with many of America’s leading injury and medical malpractice attorneys on complex legal matters, including those involving sleep disorders. Our network includes highly qualified, Board-Certified sleep physicians and sleep disorder specialists who are available for both consultation and trial testimony. Reach out to Rieback Medical-Legal Consultants today for a free case summary review.