13. Expert Medical Consultants, Inc. Testimony Peer review - Effect on reduction of medical malpractice litigation

The concept of Expert Medical Consultants, Inc. as a non-profit, voluntary, national peer review organization has been received very positively from many well-respected physicians of national stature and officers of medical organizations who see this as a concept that should grow to encompass a majority of expert medical witnesses. Expert consultants who decline to join this voluntary organization and to subject their expert opinions to retrospective review will, over time, lose credibility. Organizations, plaintiff’s attorneys, trial courts and institutions will quickly begin to place greater credibility in the expert for plaintiff or defendant who is potentially willing to defend his position at a panel of his peers on the basis of the standards and training of his specialty, rather than some narrow, self determined opinion not supported by other experts in his specialty. This does not stifle the expert in free expression of his opinions, that are NOT subject to review in this standards evaluation. It is only the standard of care used as the basis for the opinions that is being verified. EMC recognizes that two experts, both correctly defining a standard of care can come to opposite conclusions as to the application of that standard in a specific clinical circumstance. The result of greater scrutiny of the standards upon which our experts are basing their opinions is expected to suppress the filing of frivolous malpractice actions, and to increase the simplified settlement of malpractice actions where liability of the physician or entity due to breach of the standards of care is clear. As a result, EMC expects a significant effect on decreasing the workload of the trial courts in these matters. Decreased filings and simplified settlements without long delays will decrease malpractice costs for all concerned parties, organizations, governmental institutions and the courts.