ABSTRACT
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 751 Types of Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 752 Qualifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 752 Methodology: Developing Opinions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 752 Establishing and Maintaining Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 753 Mediation and Arbitration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 753 Deposition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 753 Trial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 756 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 756 References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 756 Suggested Reading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 757
Life care plans (LCP) are produced for a number of reasons, some of which are: litigation, reserve setting for insurance companies, management of monies held in medical trusts, and use by a patient’s family or caregivers. The life care planner who is retained as an expert witness must be familiar with the procedures involved in the civil litigation process and be cognizant of litigious affects on the process of the life care plan development. This chapter provides an overview of the role of the life care planning expert in lawsuits involving children.
