As an aid to mediation and as a support to testimony at trial, medical illustrations are a valuable tool.
Underlying medical testimony may be supported by demonstrative medical illustrations if they are relevant and helpful to the trier of fact. A description and illustration of a surgical procedure, for example, is fundamentally relevant to:
- understanding the nature and extent of injuries;
- appreciating the sequential and life-altering phases of plaintiff’s treatment regimen;
- understanding the profound anatomical and mechanical changes brought about by the surgery; and
- justifying the reasonableness and necessity of corresponding medical bills.
Relevance must be shown and received by the court (and the mediator) as a basis for acceptance of the medical illustration.
More on this topic in my next blog post…