A Great Many Legal Cases Turn on the Evidence From a Medical Expert Witness
It is well understood that when it comes to recreating a scene witnessed in person, the average person is not very good at it. Our legal system is one place where this frailty is observed often and with great impact. It is an area where the testimony of a medical expert witness is powerful and crucial.
When it comes to official matters, especially matters of the court, almost everyone uses a deference reserved for the most solemn affairs, and that includes extra effort to be truthful. Unfortunately, human beings have rather fragile powers of recall, and our observation skills are not nearly as sharp as officials would like.
Safety professionals have long known that if you ask someone who watched an aircraft crash if they saw a fire before the plane fell, they will say yes. To get accurate information, instead of question which may lead them to an answer, it is best to tell them to explain what they saw. In our attempt to get things right, our mind will fill in gaps or draw the most logical conclusion we can in the absence of fact.
Anyone who has taken an introductory psychology class has probably had the instructor demonstrate how weak the human power of observation really is. Typically the professor will show a short video clip about a murder or a car crash and then ask questions like who noticed the cat in the corner or the lady pushing the baby in a stroller. Invariably a large portion of the class will raise their hands when in fact neither of those events was in the clip.
It is this weakness in the ability of individuals to be absolutely certain even of things they have personally observed. At some time or other, every person has the experience wherein they were so certain of something they saw, only to find out it did not happen. Trial attorneys use these trait to manipulate the testimony of people to either discredit them, or get them to admit they are not sure.
The frailties of our powers of reasoning are frightening when observed from a distance and dispassionately. People also tend to attach a special reverence to those who have been awarded a degree or certificate of some kind. So when someone appears in front of jury with a degree clearly announced by the trial lawyer, their words carry extra weight.
People accept that medical professionals have a special knowledge beyond the lay person. This is conditioned into us, as we may literally have to trust a physician with our life. That lends their statements a much higher degree of authenticity, despite the fact that two doctors may arrive at different conclusions from the same facts.
When a courtroom trial begins, it is more than just the presentation of evidence before a group of impartial jurors. The presentation is as persuasive as the information in long complicated events. When a medical expert witness takes us through the sequence of events, it has a very serious impact.
Having a medical expert can help review the merit of your malpractice case. Contact a malpractice expert for a case evaluation today!
Having a medical expert can help review the merit of your malpractice case. Contact a malpractice expert for a case evaluation today!
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Author Bio: Having a medical expert can help review the merit of your malpractice case. Contact a malpractice expert for a case evaluation today!
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