Physiatry (PM&R) Expert Witnesses for Medical Malpractice and Injury Cases

A PM&R (physiatry) expert witness is a board-certified rehabilitation physician who evaluates standards of care, functional outcomes, disability/impairment, causation, and damages across the continuum of care—from acute consults and inpatient rehab facilities (IRFs) to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and outpatient therapy. Attorneys retain PM&R experts for stroke/TBI/SCI rehabilitation, falls and pressure-injury prevention in rehab, discharge readiness and unsafe transitions, spasticity and intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pump management, amputee care & prosthetics, electrodiagnostic (EMG/NCS) nerve injury disputes, pain & interventional spine safety, FCE/IME and return-to-work restrictions, and life-care planning & future medical needs. Expert Retainer connects you with targeted subspecialists—brain injury medicine, spinal cord injury medicine, neuromuscular/EMG, interventional spine & pain, stroke rehab, amputee & prosthetics, pediatric rehab, sports/musculoskeletal, cancer rehab—who respond directly with CVs, fee schedules, and availability, typically within 24–72 hours, nationwide.

When to retain a physiatry expert witness

Rehab discharge readiness & unsafe transitions. Was the patient discharged too soon from IRF/SNF or without adequate supports? Experts review functional scores (e.g., Section GG or legacy FIM), therapy minutes, durable medical equipment (DME) orders, home safety evaluations, caregiver training, and readmission risk.
Falls and pressure injuries during rehabilitation. Were fall-risk and skin-integrity bundles applied and documented? Opinions cover supervision levels, transfer techniques, bed/chair alarms, turning/off-loading schedules, nutrition, and escalation to wound or seating specialists.
Stroke, TBI, and disorders of consciousness. Were neurorehabilitation pathways and therapies timely? Reviews include cognitive/communication/swallow plans, spasticity and contracture prevention, intensity of therapy, and indications for assistive tech or neurostimulation.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) rehab standards. Were autonomic dysreflexia, bowel/bladder programs, and skin/positioning managed appropriately? Experts assess orthostatic hypotension, catheter strategies, seating/pressure mapping, and transition to community resources.
Spasticity care & intrathecal Baclofen pumps. Were dosing, refills, and withdrawal/overdose precautions followed? Experts analyze trial dosing, pump programming, catheter troubleshooting, and botulinum toxin indications.

Amputation & prosthetics. Were timing of amputation levels, stump care, and prosthetic training appropriate? Opinions address socket fit, gait training, energy expenditure, and fall prevention.
Electrodiagnostic medicine (EMG/NCS) & peripheral nerve injury. Were tests indicated, technically adequate, and interpreted correctly? Experts review timing after injury, radiculopathy vs. entrapment localization, and surgical referral thresholds.
Pain & interventional spine procedures. Were indications and safety measures reasonable? Reviews include epidural/facet/RFA decisions, anticoagulant holds, imaging guidance, complication recognition, and multimodal pain plans/opioid stewardship.
Work capacity, FCE/IME, and impairment ratings. Were restrictions and disability opinions supported? Experts evaluate AMA Guides-based ratings (edition per jurisdiction), FCE validity, job-demand analyses, and apportionment.
Assistive technology, wheelchairs & seating injuries. Were device choice and training adequate? Opinions cover pressure mapping, tilt/recline needs, home accessibility, and durable equipment documentation.

Physiatry subspecialties & experts available

Brain Injury Medicine expert witness. Concussion to severe TBI/DoC; cognition, behavior, swallow, return-to-work, driving.
Spinal Cord Injury Medicine expert witness. Autonomic dysreflexia, neurogenic bladder/bowel, skin, seating, community reintegration.
Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic (EMG/NCS) expert witness. Peripheral nerve injury/radiculopathy/plexopathy, test performance and interpretation.
Interventional Spine & Pain Medicine expert witness. Epidural/facet/RFA/SI injection standards, anticoagulants, imaging guidance, complications.
Stroke rehabilitation expert witness. Motor/speech/swallow recovery, spasticity, gait, caregiver training, discharge planning.

Amputee & Prosthetics expert witness. Level selection, socket/liner choices, microprocessor knees, gait analysis, fall risk.
Pediatric rehabilitation expert witness. CP, spina bifida, brachial plexus birth injury, tone management, school/IEP interfaces.
Sports & Musculoskeletal PM&R expert witness. Non-operative orthopedics, injections, return-to-play, work-conditioning.
Cancer rehabilitation & deconditioning expert witness. Neuropathy, lymphedema interfaces, fatigue, survivorship.
Life-care planning & future medical needs. Costing for therapy, equipment, attendant care, home modifications.

What you’ll receive from each physiatry expert

CV

Fee schedule

Availability

Why attorneys use Expert Retainer for physiatry experts

Attorney checklist — what records to send to a physiatry expert

Rehab records: inpatient consults, IRF/SNF H&Ps, daily progress notes, therapy plans, functional scores (Section GG/FIM), therapy minutes, team conference notes
Therapy documentation: PT/OT/SLP evaluations, goals, progress notes, gait analysis, assistive device training logs, caregiver training
Nursing & flowsheets: vitals, neuro checks, bowel/bladder programs, skin/turning schedules, pain scores, sitter levels, fall/pressure-injury logs
Equipment & seating: wheelchair/seating clinic notes, pressure mapping, DME orders, vendor/fabrication details, repair logs
Procedure & imaging: interventional spine procedure notes, anticoagulation timing, fluoroscopy reports; MRI/CT/US reports and images
EMG/NCS packets: full reports with waveforms/tracings, limb temperatures, timing from injury, prior studies for comparison
Medication & pain management: opioid totals (MME), adjuncts, PDMP summaries if available, taper plans, naloxone education
Neuro/ortho/surgical records: operative notes, weight-bearing restrictions, bracing, post-op protocols, precautions
Discharge planning: home evals, caregiver capacity, home health orders, follow-up appointments, missed-visit/outreach logs
Work & disability: job descriptions, FCEs, prior impairment ratings, employer/insurer correspondence

Common questions your physiatry expert can answer

Standard of care. Did rehab intensity, therapy mix, medical oversight, and safety bundles meet expected standards for the diagnosis and setting?
Causation & apportionment. Did delays, under-dosage of therapy, unsafe discharge, or a procedural complication more likely than not change functional outcome—or are deficits attributable to underlying injury/illness?
Functional capacity & restrictions. Are FCE/IME-based restrictions reliable and job-matched? Are impairment ratings correctly derived (AMA Guides, edition per jurisdiction)?
Spasticity & ITB pumps. Were dosing/programming and withdrawal safeguards appropriate? Were botulinum toxin indications/met goals documented?
EMG/NCS validity. Were studies technically adequate, timed correctly, and interpreted accurately to localize injury?
Interventional spine safety. Were indications, imaging guidance, anticoagulant management, and complication response reasonable?
Discharge readiness & caregiver training. Were home supports, teaching, and services adequate for safe transition?

Deposition and trial support — what to expect

Many physiatry experts offer records reviews, declarations/affidavits, deposition, and testimony; scope and rates are set by the expert.
You coordinate prep calls, exhibit exchange, and scheduling directly with the expert.
Expect timeline- and metric-driven analyses (e.g., therapy intensity, functional scores), clear impairment calculations, and practical explanations of rehab standards and real-world function.

Submit your need — how it works

Submit your need

Share your case requirements (subspecialty, timelines, conflicts).

Direct responses

Interested and available experts respond to you quickly and directly with CV, fee schedule, and availability.

Instant expert notifications

Relevant, board-certified physiatry experts are notified immediately.

No questions asked

100% no-questions-asked guarantee of a successful match.

FAQs — Physiatry Expert Witnesses

What qualifications matter for a physiatry expert witness?

ABPMR board certification in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, plus subspecialty boards where relevant (Brain Injury Medicine, Spinal Cord Injury Medicine, Pain Medicine, Sports Medicine, Neuromuscular Medicine, Pediatric Rehabilitation). Active clinical practice and case-domain experience are important; teaching and prior medico-legal work help.

How are PM&R expert witness fees structured?

Each expert sets their own schedule, typically with an initial retainer and hourly rates for review, meetings, deposition, and trial. You’ll see the fee schedule before you engage.

Do PM&R experts testify for plaintiff and defense?

Yes—our panel includes experts who take both types of cases; we also route conflicts appropriately.

Can I request academic vs. private-practice background?

Yes—indicate your preference and any credentialing needs in your submission.

How fast are matches?

Initial matches typically arrive within 24–72 hours; complex subspecialties or large record sets may take longer.

Will I see pricing before I engage?

Yes—experts reply directly with fee schedule and availability so you can decide prior to engagement.

Do your experts support affidavits of merit and depositions?

Many do; jurisdictional requirements vary. Share your needs in the submission.