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02/17/2014
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PM JURY VERDICT REPORTER) - PART 1B
From: Elliot Udell, DPM
Dr. Silhankek raises an age-old complaint that many of us have against physicians ready and willing to testify against their colleagues in medical malpractice cases. As he pointed out in this most recent case, the plaintiff's experts are esteemed faculty members of a podiatric medical college. You can bet that their credentials were used in court to give credence to the plaintiff's case.
There are, however, two sides to this discussion. On one hand, it is troubling when a respected colleague testifies against one of his or her peers in an effort to bolster a frivolous lawsuit. On the other hand, there are some very bad mistakes that occur daily in both doctors' offices and in hospitals. Patients who suffer harm, as a result of blatant medical negligence, deserve their day in court and are entitled to expert representation.
Other messages in this thread:
02/18/2014
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PM JURY VERDICT REPORTER) - PART 1B
From: Bryan C. Markinson, DPM, Alison D. Silhanek, DPM
An interpretation of the merits or lack of merit of a negligence case, or the ethical nature of any expert in such cases, SOLELY based on the snapshots reported in PM News is outrageous.
From what I have seen, Dr. Udell indeed is correct that gross negligence occurs, but it is rare. The gross negligence cases suggested by Dr. Udell are few and far between. Let us be honest here. Some podiatry school faculty are taking plaintiff's expert positions to pad their retirement accounts. It is morally bankrupt, our schools have done nothing to regulate it, and it needs to stop. And the only way to stop it is with repeated reminders to them that they are supporting morally bankrupt processes. If there was any way I could influence prospective students from those colleges which engage in this, I would. I hate to think that I am chasing at windmills here, but plaintiff and personal injury attorneys are part of what is wrong in the U.S., and I cannot help myself but try to fight the good fight.
12/03/2013
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PM JURY VERDICT REPORTER) - PART 1B
From: Alison D. Silhanek, DPM
Am I the only person reading this post to realize that Dr. Steven Boc, the plaintiff’s witness, was an employee of the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine? A supposed dedicated employee of one of our schools, who was molding our future podiatrists, is testifying against his colleagues? A paid gun working against us? How can our schools allow their affiliated doctors to act against other members of our profession? Shame on you, Dr. Boc. And shame on the Temple school for ignoring his opportunism at the expense of his colleagues. We as a profession need to stop being ashamed of our malpractice cases, as ridiculous as they may be, and start exposing the miscreants who try to discredit us.
Editor's note: Dr. Boc has not been affiliated with TUSPM for many years. Most podiatry school faculty testify only as defendants' witnesses. There have been, of course, rare exceptions .
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