Expert Witness Program

To fight lawsuit abuse and enhance the quality of expert testimony provided in medical liability cases, STS inaugurated a comprehensive Expert Witness Program during Robert Guyton's term as President in 2003. Designed primarily to promote fairness and accuracy in the field of medical liability, this pioneering initiative is overseen by the STS Standards and Ethics Committee and now has four distinct elements:

The Society's standards for expert witnesses are outlined in the Statement on the Physician Acting as an Expert Witness. Adapted from guidelines developed by the Council of Medical Specialty Societies, the American College of Surgeons, and several other medical groups, the Statement specifies standards regarding both the qualifications and behavior of physician expert witnesses. This policy, with which STS members are required to comply, was initially adopted by the STS Board of Directors in May 2003 and most recently amended in January 2007.

The second element of the program is a mechanism through which STS members can lodge complaints against fellow members who may have violated the Society's standards for expert witnesses. The Society's Procedural Guidelines for Handling Ethics Complaints Against STS Members set forth the process by which disciplinary action may be taken against a member who is alleged to have acted inappropriately in giving expert testimony, or otherwise acted unethically. The guidelines were most recently amended by the STS Board of Directors in January 2007.

The third element of the program, the Expert Review & Witness Registry, allows STS members willing to review malpractice cases to have their names provided to parties who need an expert opinion. The Registry is a resource for STS members and attorneys - representing both plaintiffs and defendants - seeking qualified, unbiased experts uniquely capable of reviewing cases involving issues related to cardiothoracic surgery. For more information, see the Registry description.

The newest aspect of the Expert Witness Program involves an arrangement with Idex - the Collaborative Defense Network for Expert Witness Research - that allows STS members to access an extensive database on expert witness activity at a heavily discounted rate. Mounting a viable defense in a malpractice lawsuit usually requires a thorough knowledge of the plaintiff's expert witnesses. Idex is the ideal tool for conducting the necessary research. Click here for more information.