The pathologist in litigation: a scientist's perspective.

Abstract

Escalation of myriad litigious facets of our society can be found in almost any large city newspaper, especially in the United States, and, in particular, in the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory listing of personal injury (toxic tort) lawyers--many with full-page advertisements offering a cornucopia of services replete with free consultation and contingency "no-fee" offers if litigation proceedings are undertaken and fail to be financially productive. With such inducements, it is little wonder that such an environment essentially guarantees that many pathologists such as yourselves will be increasingly drawn into litigation at some stage in his/her career, especially in the area of product (toxic tort) liability.