Emergency Medicine Expert Witness • High-Acuity Cases

Emergency Medicine Expert Witness for High-Acuity Cases

Board-certified emergency physician with 20+ years of experience in Level I trauma, cardiac, and stroke centers. Providing clear, defensible opinions on standard of care and causation.

Vanderbilt MD • UC San Diego Residency • ABEM Board Certified • Medical Board Expert Reviewer
Trusted by attorneys for complex emergency medicine cases involving high-risk decision-making and time-sensitive care.
  • Rapid case screening (24–72 hour turnaround)
  • Real-world emergency department decision-making
  • Clear, defensible opinions for deposition and trial
  • Extensive quality assurance and peer review leadership

Medical-legal services

Focused, practical support for attorneys.

Independent medical record review

Objective chart review, case screening, and identification of key medical-legal issues.

Standard of care analysis

Clear evaluation grounded in evidence-based medicine and real-world emergency department practice.

Causation & timeline analysis

Structured reconstruction of events with focus on clinical decision points and outcomes.

Expert witness services

Consulting and testifying roles, including deposition and trial support.

Case screening

Rapid initial assessment to determine case merit and strategic direction.

Literature support

Targeted, relevant literature summaries aligned with case-specific issues.

Representative case types

Examples of matters I frequently review (not an exhaustive list).

Missed / delayed stroke or ICH Chest pain workup & disposition STEMI/NSTEMI recognition & transfer Sepsis recognition & treatment timing Airway/RSA/RSI complications Procedural sedation events High-risk discharge / return visits Handoff / communication failures EMS destination / base station decisions Documentation & medical decision-making

Want a quick read on fit? Send a short summary and key questions — I’ll respond with proposed scope and next steps.

Curriculum vitae

Detailed credentials, training, leadership, and publications.

Professional credentials

Board certification

American Board of Emergency Medicine; Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Training

MD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Emergency Medicine Residency, UC San Diego; Chief Resident.

Leadership

Quality assurance, pre-hospital systems, base station leadership, peer review, utilization review, and administrative governance.

Publications

Peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and invited presentations in emergency medicine, airway management, stroke, and EMS-related topics.


For attorneys who want a fuller summary of training, appointments, publications, and representative experience, the complete CV is available as a downloadable PDF.

Selected experience

A quick overview (expand as desired).

2003 – 2026
Attending Emergency Physician / Base Hospital Physician — Tri-City Medical Center (Oceanside, CA) and Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA High-volume, high-acuity emergency departments including Level I trauma, cardiac, and stroke receiving centers. Extensive experience in advanced resuscitation, critical care, and complex emergency decision-making.
Leadership
Quality assurance, program management, and executive governance Systems improvement, best-practice implementation, and clinician performance optimization.
Special focus
Observation medicine • Pre-hospital systems • Advanced resuscitation Operational alignment and evidence-based clinical standards for complex environments.

Focus areas

Common ED-related issues in medical-legal review.

Resuscitation & critical care

Airway, sepsis, shock, procedural sedation, ACLS, and advanced resuscitation including ECMO-supported cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in appropriate clinical settings.

Neurologic & cardiac emergencies

Stroke systems, chest pain pathways, STEMI/NSTEMI evaluation, and time-sensitive coordination of care.

Documentation & patient safety

Chart clarity, medical decision-making, communication, handoffs, and risk-relevant operational factors.

Practice areas

Frequent topics in emergency medicine litigation and review.

Emergency department care

Triage, differential diagnosis, test selection, reassessment, disposition decisions, and throughput pressures.

Time-sensitive conditions

Stroke, TIA, intracranial hemorrhage, STEMI/NSTEMI, aortic syndromes, sepsis, and missed/early presentations.

Airway & procedures

Airway management, RSI, procedural sedation, central lines, chest tubes, and complication analysis.

EMS / base station

Pre-hospital decision-making, radio orders, destination choice, handoff quality, and system limitations.

Documentation & communication

Medical decision making, informed consent, discharge instructions, follow-up planning, and inter-provider communication.

Quality & systems factors

Staffing, crowding, policies, guideline adherence, and how real-world ED constraints affect standard of care.

How I work

Simple, predictable process for attorneys.

1. Initial screen

Brief call or email summary. I confirm fit, conflicts, and estimated scope before records are sent.

2. Structured review

Chronology, key decision points, guideline comparison, and causation analysis with cited rationale.

3. Clear work product

Concise memo or verbal consult focused on what matters legally — strengths, weaknesses, and next steps.

Turnaround

Typical preliminary impressions in days, not weeks (case complexity dependent).

Materials needed

Pleadings (if available), complete records, imaging reports, depositions, and specific legal questions.

Jurisdictions

Consulting nationally where appropriate; familiar with standards across varied ED environments.

Retention & billing

Structured, transparent engagement terms for attorneys and firms.

Professional fees

Service Rate
Case Review & Consulting $650/hour
Initial Retainer $7,500 (applied to review)
Depositions $900/hour (4-hour minimum)
Trial Testimony $6,500–$8,000/day
Reports & Written Opinions Hourly or project-based

Engagements are approached with a focus on clarity, objectivity, and practical clinical insight. Opinions are grounded in real-world emergency medicine practice and evidence-based standards.

An initial retainer is required prior to record review. Work is billed against the retainer. Depositions require advance scheduling and prepayment. Trial testimony requires advance reservation.

Expedited review is available for urgent matters with priority scheduling. Additional fees may apply.

Contact

Confidential inquiry • No obligation. Response typically within 24 hours.

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