Last week, Parambil hosted a virtual roundtable discussion with a diverse group of expert witnesses and legal professionals to discuss the evolving landscape of medical-legal work in the age of AI. The conversation revealed fascinating insights about how artificial intelligence is transforming this specialized field.

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The Expert Witness Challenge

For decades, expert witnesses have faced a common set of challenges: wading through thousands of pages of medical records, preparing for depositions, and ensuring their analyses are thorough and defensible. But today's expert witnesses are working in a rapidly changing environment where AI tools are creating both new opportunities and questions.

During our roundtable, participants ranging from orthopedic surgeons to pediatric neurologists, from internists to legal professionals, shared their perspectives on how they're adapting to this changing landscape.

The Document Dilemma

One of the most consistent challenges mentioned was the sheer volume of documentation experts must review. As one orthopedic surgeon noted, "It takes a lot of time to go through the documents... I get these packages that can be thousands of pages. But from my standpoint, once I do my thorough review I find there's maybe only 200 pages of relevant orthopedic records that I need to deep-dive into"

This is precisely where AI solutions are beginning to make a difference. Modern AI tools can provide concise summaries of patient experiences and help experts quickly identify the most relevant sections of medical records. However, experts unanimously agreed on one crucial point: AI doesn't replace the need to review all records. "You gotta read everything. Period," affirmed one neurologist, noting that while AI can guide them to important sections, thoroughly reviewing all materials remains essential.

Revolutionizing Research

Perhaps the most exciting area where AI is making an impact is in analyzing published literature. Several participants highlighted tools like "Open Evidence," which processes millions of PubMed citations and delivers research that previously would have taken hours in mere seconds.

"It's unbelievable," remarked one physician. "What used to take four hours of review is a quick search... the results have citations... It's like a research paper in six or seven seconds."

This ability to quickly access and synthesize scientific literature is transforming how experts approach causation arguments and strengthen their testimony with relevant research.

The Mock Deposition Revolution

Preparation for testimony has also evolved with AI. Multiple participants described using AI to conduct mock depositions based on their reports.

"I take my actual report... I set up a mock deposition based on the actual report prior to the deposition," explained one orthopedic expert. "I tell it to get progressively more aggressive as a plaintiff attorney."

These virtual practice sessions help experts prepare for challenging questions about their methodology, compensation, or the limited time they might have spent with a patient compared to treating physicians. It's a new form of preparation that wasn't possible before recent AI advancements.

The Billing Question

The efficiencies created by AI raise important ethical considerations about billing practices. One attorney posed a thought-provoking question: "If you're billing by the hour, and before AI something took you 50 hours... but if you use AI it would take you 1 hour.. is there an ethical issue there with billing for 50 hours and not using the tools?"

This question highlights the complex interplay between efficiency, value, and compensation. Some experts noted that faster review times could potentially reduce their billable hours, creating a disincentive to adopt AI tools. Others suggested that the value they provide isn't just time spent but the expertise and judgment they bring to interpreting information.

The Future of Expert Testimony

Looking ahead, participants envisioned a future where experts who leverage AI effectively will have competitive advantages. While some traditional experts might resist these tools to preserve billable hours, those who embrace them can offer more comprehensive, better-supported analyses in less time.

As one medical-legal professional with both an MD and JD observed: "Everything's got to change. None of this works... The evaluations do not work, the way we're doing it doesn't work, the way that the attorneys are asking the questions doesn't work, the way that we market ourselves does not work."

This sentiment captures the transformative moment we're witnessing. AI isn't just making existing processes more efficient—it's fundamentally changing how expert witness work happens.

The Courtroom of Tomorrow

Perhaps most intriguing was the discussion about how AI is already appearing in courtrooms. Attorneys are using these tools in real-time during trials to challenge expert testimony or find supporting evidence.

"In real-time, lawyers are learning to use it now in courtroom," noted one participant. "They'll have you on the spot... I'm inputting all your publications and saying, 'Where do these contradict each other? Where do these support my statement?'"

This real-time fact-checking and research capability is raising the bar for experts, who must be increasingly prepared for their statements to be instantly verified or challenged.

Building Community

The roundtable concluded with discussion about creating more opportunities for expert witnesses to share knowledge and best practices. Unlike many professional fields, expert witness work often happens in isolation, with limited opportunities for peer learning or methodology development.

At Parambil, we're exploring ways to support this community through technology solutions that address the challenges raised during our discussion—from better document organization to more efficient review processes and preparation tools.

Join the Conversation

Are you an expert witness or legal professional interested in the future of medical-legal work? We'd love to hear your perspective and include you in future discussions. Contact us at sales@parambil.com to learn more about our ongoing work in this area.

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