In litigation, your medical expert is your greatest asset—or your biggest liability.
The wrong expert—someone who is out of practice, lacks specific sub-specialty knowledge, or writes vague reports—can cost you the case. Yet, for decades, lawyers and insurers have relied on “brokers” to choose their experts for them.
MEDirect flips this model. We believe you should choose your expert. But how do you make the right choice? Here are the critical factors to consider when searching our directory.
1. Sub-Specialty “Fit” vs. Generalist
Medicine is hyper-specialized. A “General Orthopaedic Surgeon” may not be the best choice for a complex hand injury.
- The Risk: If your expert is a generalist, and the other side hires a Hand Surgeon, your evidence will likely be outweighed in court.
- The Solution: Use MEDirect’s granular search filters to find the exact match. If the injury is a “Scaphoid Fracture,” find an expert who lists Hand & Wrist as their primary sub-specialty.
2. Active Clinical Practice
Judges increasingly prefer experts who still treat patients, rather than “professional witnesses” who have retired from clinical work.
- Why it matters: An expert in active practice is up-to-date with the latest surgical techniques and recovery prognoses. Their opinion on “standard of care” is current, not dated.
- The Solution: MEDirect profiles clearly display the expert’s current clinical appointments, so you can verify their currency before you book.
3. Impartiality and Track Record
An expert who is perceived as a “hired gun” (always finding for the plaintiff or always for the insurer) loses credibility.
- The Goal: You want an expert who is known for fearless independence. A report that makes concessions where necessary is far more persuasive than one that is blindly supportive.
- The Solution: Our platform allows you to view an expert’s bio and experience across both plaintiff and defendant work, helping you assess their balance.
4. Availability and Timelines
The best expert in the world is useless if they can’t see your client before the court deadline.
- The Old Way: Email a broker and wait 3 days to be told “Dr Smith is booked until 2026.”
- The MEDirect Way: See Dr Smith’s real-time calendar. If he is booked, instantly see five other comparable specialists with availability next week.
5. Cost Transparency
Budget management is critical in claims management.
- The Solution: MEDirect shows you the expert’s standard report fee upfront. There are no hidden “booking fees” or “expedition fees” added by a middleman. You know exactly what the disbursement will be.
Summary Don’t settle for “allocation.” Your case deserves the best possible expert. Take control of your evidence by using MEDirect to search, vetting, and booking the right specialist for the job.