Medical Expert Witness Due-Diligence Checklist
A structured checklist for researching a medical expert witness before retention, deposition or trial.
Identity and credentials
Confirm the expert's full professional name, degrees, training, licenses, board certifications, current practice, hospital or academic affiliations and specialty-specific qualifications.
Professional history
Review employment, disciplinary actions, license restrictions, malpractice history when relevant, publications, presentations, teaching appointments and professional memberships.
Litigation record
Evaluate prior expert testimony, deposition history, trial appearances, plaintiff-versus-defense balance, prior retention topics and public testimony that may overlap with the current case.
Case fit
Confirm that the expert has practical experience with the medical condition, procedure, treatment environment, patient population and time period involved in the matter.
Methodology and support
Ask how the expert reaches opinions, which records are necessary, what literature or standards inform the analysis, what assumptions are being made and what information could change the opinion.
Operational fit
Confirm conflicts, availability, expected turnaround, report format, fee structure, cancellation policy, travel requirements and remote deposition or trial capabilities.