Legal Nurse Consultants (LNCs)
Legal Nurse Consultants (LNCs) use their clinical nursing expertise to assist attorneys, insurance companies, healthcare organizations, and other legal professionals with cases involving medical issues.
Here are the main areas where LNCs provide assistance:
I
Litigation Support
- Medical Malpractice: Reviewing records to determine deviations from standards of care.
- Personal Injury: Evaluating injuries and causation in auto accidents, slips and falls, workplace injuries, etc.
- Product Liability: Assessing harm caused by drugs, medical devices, or consumer products.
- Toxic Torts: Analyzing medical effects of chemical exposures.
- Criminal Cases: Consulting in assault, abuse, or death investigations with medical implications.
- Wrongful Death: Reviewing causes of death and associated care to assess liability.
II
Medical Record Review & Analysis
- Summarizing and interpreting records for legal professionals.
- Identifying missing or altered documentation.
- Chronology construction for timelines of care and treatment.
- Detecting red flags, inconsistencies, and causation issues.
III
Standard of Care Evaluation
- Comparing the care provided with national and specialty-specific standards.
- Evaluating nursing protocols, policies, and procedures.
IV
Expert Witness Coordination & Testimony
- Identifying, locating, and vetting medical experts.
- Some LNCs also testify as expert witnesses, especially in areas of nursing care.
V
Life Care Planning & Damages Assessment
- Assisting with or creating life care plans for catastrophic injury cases.
- Estimating future medical costs, equipment needs, and long-term care.
VI
Case Management & Consulting
- Supporting claims adjusters, risk managers, or legal teams.
- Clarifying complex medical terminology and explaining disease processes.
VII
Corporate & Insurance Support
- Working with insurance companies to evaluate claims for medical necessity or fraud.
- Providing utilization review and risk management support.
VIII
Education & Training
- Educating attorneys and legal staff on medical concepts.
- Developing presentations for trial preparation or settlement negotiation.
