Critical care expert witnesses provide independent medical opinion on the assessment and treatment of patients with life-threatening illness or injury, including patients who require intensive care or advanced organ support. What clinical issues can critical care specialists assess? Depending on their qualifications and experience, specialists may assess recognition of deterioration, resuscitation, admission to intensive care, ventilation, organ support, sepsis and other complications of critical illness. When might critical care expertise be required in a medico-legal case? An appropriately qualified expert may assist with questions concerning the standard of clinical care, escalation and treatment decisions, causation, and the consequences of critical illness. McCollum Consultants helps solicitors identify independent critical care specialists whose verified experience is appropriate to the matters requiring expert opinion.
Critical Care Expert Witness FAQs
What does a critical care expert witness do?
A critical care expert witness provides independent opinion on the clinical management of critically ill patients. Depending on the case and their expertise, this may include assessment, resuscitation, ventilation, organ support, treatment decisions and complications arising during critical illness.
When might a solicitor require a critical care expert witness?
Specialist opinion may be required in clinical negligence or other medico-legal matters involving deterioration, delayed escalation to intensive care, sepsis, respiratory failure, resuscitation or complex treatment decisions. The relevant clinical questions determine which expert is appropriate.
How can I find a suitable critical care expert witness?
Provide McCollum Consultants with a case summary, the relevant clinical records and the questions requiring expert opinion. The team can help identify a suitably qualified specialist whose clinical and medico-legal experience matches the instruction.
Discuss Your Case
