Frequently Asked QuestionsWho am I? What is a Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC)? Are LNC�s used for plaintiff or defense? Why use an LNC when a medical doctor may be needed for an expert opinion? What are some ways an LNC can be of use to your company? What are some of the areas of practice that an LNC would be used for? As a defense attorney, how can an LNC be of use? How can an LNC be of use in the role of risk management? How does an LNC increase the validity of an expert witness? What is some of the most important MEDICAL information the LNC can offer How can an LNC aid in a winning case presentation? Why can't a paralegal do the same work?
Who am I?
My name is Nancy Gonzalez, ARNP, CLNC, CPNP. I am a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant,
and I am currently licensed as an Advance Registered Nurse Practitioner, nationally board certified in pediatrics.
Nursing experience in:
I am a specially trained registered nurse that reviews, organizes, interprets, and analyzes the medical record, determining compliance with Standards of Care.
I work on both plaintiff and defense cases. I also work for insurance companies and facility risk management divisions.
I can do the initial review of the medical record for significantly less cost, contributing to the efficient use of time and resources by having a summation of pertinent medical details available for the expert witness. The overall report will be more comprehensive, potentially discovering deviations from the standard of care that the expert witness may not recognize. Click here for The American Association of Nurse Attorneys article of the Illinois Supreme Court's ruling that only a nurse is qualified to offer expert evidence as to the standard of care for nurses (Sullivan v. Edward Hosp., No. 95409, 2004 WL 228956 (Ill. Feb. 5, 2004). This reinforces the logic behind having a Registered Nurse review the medical record. Or here for the Illinois Supreme Court Case
In addition to the above mentioned uses, I can interview staff and direct questioning to determine facts of the case. This statement, which is signed and dated by the employee or whoever is questioned, ensures that it is comprehensive, integrated, and consistent with the goals of your case.
I can be used for medical record review, as well as identification of areas in need of modification. These recommendations can be carried out through the facilities Safety Committee or Quality Improvement to make the appropriate changes to policy and procedures, ensuring consistency with current standards of care.
To avoid expert witness testimony from being excluded, the testimony MUST be focused and specifically relevant to the case being argued. The LNC as an expert witness consultant first reviews the medical history for pertinent information, offering more focused and objective coaching of the expert witness.
Determination of whether or not the Standards of Care were met by reviewing past medical history, diagnostics, laboratory and radiological findings, physician and consultation notes, operative reports, and nurses notes.
I can assist in interpreting the medical data and preparing a presentation that is both dynamic and that communicates the physical parameters of the case. This informative presentation requires the ability to put complex medical and legal concepts into non-medical, non-legal language.
It is imperative to have an education in science and the medical field in order to accurately decipher the details that will deliver the best outcome for your case.
Please contact me at:
Links connecting this website to other websites are provided as a courtesy only. Nurse-consultant. COM assumes no responsibility or liability for other sites content, accuracy, or compliance with applicable laws. |
