Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)

Reviewed by KW Life Care Planning Editorial Team

The M.D. degree with state licensure authorizes the practice of medicine. In life care planning, physicians supply the medical foundation of the plan: diagnosis, prognosis, life expectancy considerations, and the treatment, medication, surgical, and follow-up recommendations that the planner itemizes and prices. A physician life care planner can both make and document those recommendations.

Issued by

Accredited Medical Schools and State Medical Boards

Requirements

Admissibility

Physician testimony on future medical needs and prognosis is routinely admitted when the opinion is within the physician's specialty and grounded in the record. A physician-authored life care plan carries the medical recommendations and their basis in a single document, which limits disputes over whether each item has physician support.

Our planners holding M.D.

M.D. by state

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a physician life care planner still consult the treating physicians?

Yes. The plan documents the treating providers' recommendations and the physician planner's own review of the record. Where the two differ, the plan states the basis for the recommendation adopted.

Do forensic physicians need board certification?

Courts do not categorically require it, but board certification in the specialty relevant to the injury is frequently persuasive on qualification.

Can a physician planner address life expectancy?

A physician can present a medical opinion on life expectancy based on the evaluee's condition, function, and the relevant literature. The plan shows the sources relied on and, where appropriate, the cost of the plan across a range of life expectancies.

References

  1. American Board of Medical Specialties

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Contact our team to discuss how KW Life Care Planning can support your case with certified life care planning expertise. Request a Consultation or call (201) 343-0700.