Product Description
Expert Evidence in Clinical Negligence
Authors: P van den Heever, N Lawrenson
Format: Physical Hardcopy
Expert medical evidence is often essential and pivotal in support or defence of medical negligence. Such cases invariably involve questions of technical and factual complexity requiring the evaluation of conflicting expert medical testimony.
In this book, the first standalone textbook on expert evidence in South Africa, the authors expound and extrapolate the whole process from the initial obtaining of the relevant health records to the eventual testimony of the medical expert witness in court.
The authors offer an instructive guide to busy practitioners to assist them with –
identifying the correct expert speciality or sub-speciality
the construction of a medico-legal opinion
the status of joint minutes of such experts
the preparation of an expert’s examination-in-chief
cross- and re-examination of an expert
Expert Evidence in Clinical Negligence also discusses the invaluable role of experts in the resolution of medical malpractice disputes by way of mediation.
Relevant case law and the applicable Uniform Rules of Court are comprehensively discussed and set out in the footnotes for ease of reference.
Contents:
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Health records
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The nature of opinion and expert evidence
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The production of expert evidence
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Obtaining the expert opinion/report
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Preparing the expert to testify
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Qualifying costs of the expert witness and related fees
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Grading the quality of expert evidence and statistical medical evidence
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The role of medical experts in alternative dispute resolution
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Training and accreditation of experts
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Templates:
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Request for clinical notes
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Request for access to records (public body)
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Request for access to records (private body)
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Recognition of specialities
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Letter of instruction to expert
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Postscript: Oppelt v Head: Health, Department of Health Provincial Administration: Western Cape
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