Chart Review
Review of medical records to identify the clinical facts and the questions that matter to your case.
Physician Associate Expert Witnesses
Qualified PA experts for plaintiff and defense counsel.
PA Legal Medicine Experts connects attorneys with board-certified physician associates (PAs) in multiple medical and surgical specialties across the United States for chart review, standard-of-care review, deposition, and testimony.
- Board-certified PAs
- In good standing with their state medical boards
- Multiple specialties across the U.S.
- Plaintiff and defense
What our experts provide
PA experts in our network review the records and give clear, well-supported opinions on whether care met the standard expected of a reasonable PA.
Standard of Care Review
An objective opinion on whether evaluation, treatment, and disposition met the standard of care expected of a reasonable PA in the same circumstances.
Deposition
Preparation and testimony at deposition, in person or by remote video.
Trial Testimony
Clear, well-supported testimony that explains clinical reasoning to judges and juries.
Why attorneys choose PA Legal Medicine Experts
PA experts for PA care
Our experts are PAs, so they can address PA education, scope of practice, and supervision directly, in the jurisdictions that expect a same-profession expert.
Vetted experts
Every expert in the network is a board-certified PA in good standing with their state medical board.
The right match
We ask clarifying questions about the specialty, clinical setting, and jurisdiction before recommending anyone, so the expert fits the case.
Objective opinions
Each expert decides whether to accept a case based on its merits and works with plaintiff and defense counsel alike.
Specialties across the U.S.
The network includes PAs in multiple medical and surgical specialties practicing across the United States.
Led by a practicing PA
The network was founded by a PA with more than 24 years in trauma, emergency medicine, wilderness medicine, and critical care.
Types of matters our experts review
- Missed or delayed diagnosis
- Emergency department falls with subsequent injury
- Animal and dog bites with subsequent infection
- Urgent care discharge decisions
- Inpatient discharge decisions
- Medication concerns
- General standard-of-care review of PA practice
Independent, merits-based review
Each expert independently reviews the records and decides whether to accept a case based on its merits. If the care met the standard, the expert will say so, regardless of which side retained them.
This independence is what makes an opinion credible to a judge or jury, and it is why our experts work with both plaintiff and defense counsel.
Why retain a PA to evaluate PA care
When the care provided by a PA is at issue, an expert who trained and practices as a PA can speak directly to PA education, scope of practice, supervision and collaboration, and clinical decision-making. Many jurisdictions require or strongly favor an expert from the same profession.
Finding a qualified PA expert in the right specialty can be difficult. PA Legal Medicine Experts exists to make that search faster and more reliable.
How an engagement works
Case inquiry
Send a brief, general description of the matter, the specialty or setting involved, and the jurisdiction.
Clarifying questions
We follow up to understand the clinical issues, timeline, and any conflicts before recommending an expert.
Expert introduction
We introduce a board-certified PA with experience in the relevant specialty and setting.
Merits review
The expert reviews the records and independently decides whether to accept the case. Review terms are set by each expert.
Direct retention
If the expert accepts, you retain them directly for opinions, reports, deposition, and testimony.
About physician associates
Physician associates, formerly titled physician assistants, are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient's principal healthcare provider. Most state laws still use the title physician assistant, and both titles describe the same profession and the same PA-C credential.
According to the American Academy of Physician Associates, there are more than 200,000 PAs in the United States, educated in more than 315 accredited master's degree programs. PAs practice in nearly every medical and surgical specialty and setting, in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and the uniformed services.
Founder
Founded by a practicing PA
PA Legal Medicine Experts was founded by D. Cristopher Benner, PA-C, MMSc, FAWM, a PA with more than 24 years of experience in trauma, emergency medicine, wilderness medicine, and critical care. He is available for consultation, and attorneys may request him specifically through the case inquiry form.
PAs interested in joining the network
Board-certified PAs in good standing who are interested in medico-legal work are invited to apply to join the network.
Find a PA expert for your case
Initial inquiries are confidential. Please describe the matter in general terms and do not include patient identifiers.