ATTORNEY
INFO
Services
a Legal Nurse Consultant Can Provide:*
•
Initial case screenings for merit or lack of merit.
• Identify standards of care, causation, and damage
issues.
• Conduct client interviews.
• Conduct research and summarize findings.
• Identify and apply multidisciplinary standards of
care and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare chronologies of medical records facts and
compare them to the allegations.
• Provide education regarding medical facts and issues
relevant to the case.
• Prepare life care plans by identifying and
determining damages and related costs of services.
• Organize and assist with mock trials.
• Assist in developing and preparing trial exhibits.
• Organize medical records and other medically related
litigation materials.
• Locate and procure demonstrative evidence.
• Collaborate in preparing or analyzing: Complaints,
answers, motions for summary judgment, interrogatories,
deposition and trial outlines, queries for direct and cross
examination, document production requests, trial briefs,
demand letters, and status reports.
• Witness and report on an Independent Medical Exam.
• Identify and locate expert witnesses.
• Act as a liaison among attorneys, physicians, and
clients.
* Adapted from the American Association of Legal Nurse
Consultants Text: "Legal Nurse Consulting: Principles and
Practice" (1st ed.), (1998), Boca Raton: CRC Press
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
Q.
How does a Legal Nurse Consultant differ from a
paralegal?
A. LNCs bring their nursing expertise and medical knowledge
to the legal team to optimize case outcomes. Legal nurse
consulting is considered a specialty practice of the
nursing profession. Legal Nurse Consulting and Paralegal
are two distinct professions, each with an important role
in the medical-legal arena.
Q. What benefits do legal nurse consultants bring to the
litigation team?
A. There are many benefits, including:
•
Knowledge: The
legal nurse consultant has a thorough understanding of
medical issues and trends related to the total litigation
process. Utilizing a solid nursing background and knowledge
of healthcare standards, the LNC can strategically identify
strengths and weaknesses of a case. This information is
then custom-designed for the attorney, the client, and the
jury.
•
Experience: The
legal nurse consultant has a wealth of clinical experience.
In addition to their clinical background, LNCs possess
experience and skill in the interpretation of medical
records, documents, and medical-legal issues.
•
Resourcefulness: The
legal nurse consultant possesses a network of medical and
professional resources and contacts
•
Cost-effectiveness: The
knowledge, experience and resourcefulness LNCs bring to the
litigation team also allows for faster medical record
evaluation with greater accuracy and depth. The LNC can
also identify and locate the appropriate expert to
streamline the process, saving both time and money.
Q. Where do I find a qualified LNC?
A. AALNC- LA Chapter has members from many specialty areas
of the nursing profession. For more information, please
view the membership listing on this website.
© 2006
AALNCLA
