The Scientific Expert in Court. Principles and Guidelines. Richard M. Froede. Washington, DC: AACC Press, 1997, 92 pp. $19.00. ISBN 0-915274-93-0.

Abstract

Toxicologists, clinical chemists, pathologists, and other laboratorians increasingly are drawn into litigation through work-related issues such as medical malpractice, workplace drug testing results, or postaccident Emergency Department testing or through consulting. In many cases, laboratorians become involved because expert or opinion testimony is required to assist the trier of fact (e.g., a jury in a jury trial or a judge in a bench trial) in understanding evidence such as serum alcohol concentrations, cardiac isoenzymes, or surgical pathology reports. Although the expert witness commonly is thought of as an individual with an advanced degree such as a PhD and/or MD, experts may be qualified for any number of reasons, including experience; even individuals who think they may be called to testify only to facts, such as the performance of a test, should consider the possibility of being called as expert witnesses. Dr. Froede, who is a veteran of many years in the field of forensic medicine, takes the reader from the most basic involvement in …