The Politically Correct
Health Care Professional

The Doctor in Litigation
Bright Line Deposition Rules
© Gary L. Wolfstone (2022)

Introduction

The American Dream ~ rising star status and wealth ~ cannot be achieved in today's society unless the doctor who is called upon to testify is politically correct. Moving up, getting ahead, making the right impression and earning the confidence of your colleagues in the medical profession now depends upon your political correctness and whether you are persuasive and professional in a deposition ~ the crucible of litigation.
 
This book not only explores the bright line rules for deposition testimony but also prepares the health care professional to use those rules. What you say, what you do and what you believe determine your political correctness. The doctor who achieves political correctness will get the best results in litigation and a never-ending supply of satisfied clients. The ambitious health care professional with the brightest prospects; the doctor who wields the greatest influence among lawyers and judges; and the doctor who enjoys the best reputation within any health care organization is the politically correct doctor.
 
Litigation is propelled forward by the reptillian stem of the human brain, and the over-achieving litigator drowns out the softer rhythms of human nature. The deposition is, however, more than pre-trial discovery because it is the first meaningful opportunity for the predator to make a sober appraisal of the prey. Impressions about strength and endurance are formed in the deposition. Facts are gathered, and admissible evidence is evaluated during and after the deposition. Credibility is tested. Decisions about settlement ~ whether settlement or trial is a wiser choice ~ emerge from the deposition. Without the deposition, the courtroom drama would be trial by ambush.
 
Political correctness is no longer a superficial catch phrase denoting that "you are cautious, and you do not offend colleagues." Political correctness has become a password to a whole constellation of essential personal attributes and qualities that pave the way to your success in litigation and within any medical community ~ "you are wise, you are effective and skillfull in testimony, your opinion is essential to a just result in litigation." This beatification of political correctness is nothing short of a paradigm shift ~ the highest compliment that lawyers and judges, your peers and your superiors can pay in today's society is to describe you as politically correct.
 
Competency is important, but political correctness is more important. A Harvard degree can make you popular among a small group of friends, but a lasting and sustaining reputation that you are a forward scout in the wilderness of litigation is not possible unless you are perceived as politically correct. "Politically Correct" is not a label that you put on your resume, and it would look silly on your name badge. If you transgress the rules of political correctness, then your colleagues will perceive you as having a quality of "menacing vagueness." But if you are politically correct, then you will be viewed as ethical and self-confident. To be politically correct is to be a leader and a winner, and the spoils of war go the winner.
 
Write about what you know about, and because I am a lawyer who has worked with and deposed many doctors, I frequently use the Politically Correct Doctor as the prototypical politically correct person. However, this book applies to all occupations and all professions.
 
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Gary L. Wolfstone
Seattle Trial Lawyer
Seattle, WA
garywolfstone@gmail.com
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Seattle lawyer, Gary L. Wolfstone ~ Suomi