Expert Qualified to Testify Despite Lack of Hands-on Experience

In the recent case of Roy v. Dackman, the Maryland Court of Appeals determined that a pediatrician was competent to testify as to the cause of lead poisoning even though he admitted that he had no direct hands-on experience with treating lead poisoning patients. The court stated, as a general proposition, in order to qualify as an expert, the witness need not possess special knowledge if he or she is generally conversant with the subject of the controversy. The expert’s academic and experiential qualifications include a three year pediatric residency, a two year pediatric fellowship, and more than 20 years in practice.