- Email: [email protected]
The author replies
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LEITERS TO THE EDITOR
The author replies:-I would like to thank Dr Smith for his comments on our article. Treatment of the case was obviously difficult and required a multidisciplinary approach by various medical and surgical specialties, including otolaryngology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, radiology, infectious disease, and pathology. All of these services were intimately involved in the medical and surgical management of this patient, and it was my error in not including this information in the article. O'RYAN, DDS Oakland, California
FELICE
EXPERT WITNESS TESTIMONY
To the Editor:-Having personally worked with Neal K. Quinn, JD, and having heard him lecture on expert witness testimony, I was overjoyed to see his article published in the journal (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 46:1086, 1988). An article such as this was long overdue. I personally think that every oral and maxillofacial surgeon should have this article as required reading, and hopefully they will read it two or three times so that they get the full meaning. Yes, we do have an obligation to police our-
selves, but there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. Sometimes, because of our competitive attitudes, we tend to be overzealous in criticism of our colleagues. There is no doubt that the attorneys and insurance companies have had much to do with the malpractice crisis that exists today, but I assure you, we tend to be our own worst enemy at times. Having had a large amount of experience in reviewing cases for insurance companies, serving on peer review panels, and serving on medical review panels for the state of Louisiana, I must remind myself at times what my'duty is when I serve in these capacities. I tell myself that I am not a judge and jury of my peers; at times it is very difficult to interpret what truly happened by reading a record of a deposition. There is no doubt that we need to police ourselves, but there are correct methods and incorrect methods of doing this. Neal Quinn has eloquently laid forth the ground rules by which all health care providers should practice when serving as an expert witness for the plaintiff. RONALD B. MARKS, DDS Alexandria, Louisiana
1835 K Street. NW.• Suite 700 • Washington, D.C. 20006 202/634-9836 TOO: 1-800-826·7653
CHRISTOPHER ENOCH ABEYTA Abducted by an unknown individual Date Missing: 07/15/86 Missing From: Colorado Springs, CO Date of Birth: 11/28/85 Age at Disappearance: 7 months Sex: Male Race: White Weight: 22lbs Height: 2 ft 2 in Hair: Blonde Eyes: Blue Identifying Marks: None Identifying Information: None Circumstances: Christopher was taken from his parents' bedroom between 12:30 AM and 2:30 AM. ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843·5678 OR Colorado Springs Police Department 1-303-578-6733 At time of disappearance
Computer aged
LEITERS TO THE EDITOR
The author replies:-I would like to thank Dr Smith for his comments on our article. Treatment of the case was obviously difficult and required a multidisciplinary approach by various medical and surgical specialties, including otolaryngology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, radiology, infectious disease, and pathology. All of these services were intimately involved in the medical and surgical management of this patient, and it was my error in not including this information in the article. O'RYAN, DDS Oakland, California
FELICE
EXPERT WITNESS TESTIMONY
To the Editor:-Having personally worked with Neal K. Quinn, JD, and having heard him lecture on expert witness testimony, I was overjoyed to see his article published in the journal (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 46:1086, 1988). An article such as this was long overdue. I personally think that every oral and maxillofacial surgeon should have this article as required reading, and hopefully they will read it two or three times so that they get the full meaning. Yes, we do have an obligation to police our-
selves, but there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. Sometimes, because of our competitive attitudes, we tend to be overzealous in criticism of our colleagues. There is no doubt that the attorneys and insurance companies have had much to do with the malpractice crisis that exists today, but I assure you, we tend to be our own worst enemy at times. Having had a large amount of experience in reviewing cases for insurance companies, serving on peer review panels, and serving on medical review panels for the state of Louisiana, I must remind myself at times what my'duty is when I serve in these capacities. I tell myself that I am not a judge and jury of my peers; at times it is very difficult to interpret what truly happened by reading a record of a deposition. There is no doubt that we need to police ourselves, but there are correct methods and incorrect methods of doing this. Neal Quinn has eloquently laid forth the ground rules by which all health care providers should practice when serving as an expert witness for the plaintiff. RONALD B. MARKS, DDS Alexandria, Louisiana
1835 K Street. NW.• Suite 700 • Washington, D.C. 20006 202/634-9836 TOO: 1-800-826·7653
CHRISTOPHER ENOCH ABEYTA Abducted by an unknown individual Date Missing: 07/15/86 Missing From: Colorado Springs, CO Date of Birth: 11/28/85 Age at Disappearance: 7 months Sex: Male Race: White Weight: 22lbs Height: 2 ft 2 in Hair: Blonde Eyes: Blue Identifying Marks: None Identifying Information: None Circumstances: Christopher was taken from his parents' bedroom between 12:30 AM and 2:30 AM. ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843·5678 OR Colorado Springs Police Department 1-303-578-6733 At time of disappearance
Computer aged