Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Where, When and How Is <i>Ex Parte</i> Communication With a Physician OK?

By Lori G. Cohen and Marcella C. Ducca
December 31, 2013

In medical malpractice cases, treating physicians, nurses and other providers are key witnesses. They have specialized knowledge of the plaintiff and her medical conditions, and, unlike expert witnesses, they have had the opportunity to personally examine and evaluate the plaintiff outside of the litigation context. They can explain their unique shorthand or abbreviations in the medical records (or read their poor handwriting), provide detail behind the written medical records and lay the foundation for a defendant's causation and damages theories. Because ex parte meetings and discussions with treating physicians can be so informative, they are often seen as invaluable tools for any party permitted to meet with treating physicians.

However, as helpful as these discussions can be for parties who are permitted to meet with treating physicians, these discussions can also be particularly damaging and have long-term ramifications for a party that is unaware of or unable to participate in such meetings. They may also have legal and ethical consequences for parties that attempt to conduct such meetings without familiarizing themselves with the law of their particular jurisdiction.

The Advantages and Disadvantages

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York Image

In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?

Legal Possession: What Does It Mean? Image

Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.