Wisc. physicians can't be forced to testify as expert witnesses

Article

The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently ruled that an obstetrician-gynecologist cannot be compelled to testify against a patient's former physician when a lawyer misses a deadline to name an expert witness. The decision, which reversed a lower court's decision, fell in line with friend-of-the-court briefs filed by the American Medical Association and the Wisconsin Medical Society.

Had the Supreme Court allowed the lower court's decision to stand, ob/gyn Charles Koh, MD, would have been forced to testify as an expert witness in a medical malpractice case against a patient's former ob/gyn. Koh had been reluctant to testify.

The supreme court, however, agreed with the argument presented by the AMA and WMS that upholding the lower court's decision "would have stripped doctors and other professionals of the right to decide whether they would provide their time and knowledge to the court," reported American Medical News (4/19/04).

Newsletter

Get the latest clinical updates, case studies, and expert commentary in obstetric and gynecologic care. Sign up now to stay informed.

Recent Videos
Michael Ussher, PhD, highlights the benefits of vaping over smoking in pregnancy | Image Credit: sgul.ac.uk.
Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, highlights AMA's new breast cancer prevention guidelines | Image Credit: pcrm.org.
Zachary Wagner, PhD, discusses the harms of bias in reproductive care | Image Credit: ornsife.usc.edu.
Related Content
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.