Legal Question in Medical Malpractice in California

Re: Expert emergency medicine witness in California

There's no hard-and-fast rule. Obviously, the person must have been in the field for years or have intimate knowledge of the field. A medical degree certainly helps, as do writings, attendance at a recognized school, membership in recognized emergency medicine organizations, etc.

Of course, any subcategory also requires additional knowledge -- such as administration of certain drugs or diagnosing a certain illness, etc. It also would help to be knowledgeable about the scholarly texts and reference books in the area so that you can find and quote others who support your point of view. Hope this helps. If a lawyer hires you, the lawyer should practice your response.

There are certain techniques that an expert uses to develop rapport with jurors, and he/she must be personable, but that's beyond this topic.