ABSTRACT
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 721 Hiring a Life Care Planning Expert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 723 Working with the Life Care Planner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 723 Dealing with the Defense Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 724
Daubert
and the Admissibility of Expert Life Care Planner Testimony . . . . . 724 Collateral Source Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 728 A Case Illustration:
Union Planters’ Bank v. United States of America and Touchette Regional Hospital
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 729 Presenting the Life Care Planner in Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 730 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 730 References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 731
Many seriously injured children will need a lifetime of medical care and support in either the home or an alternative setting. They may require ongoing medication, a variety of supplies, and specialized equipment such as wheelchairs. Because the child’s enjoyment of and participation in past activities that were once taken for granted may be greatly curtailed or eliminated, the injury’s effect on the child and the family will be immense.
