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Ethical Implications of Physician Involvement in Lawsuits on Behalf of the Tobacco Industry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2021

Jess Alderman
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Extract

Physicians have long served as expert witnesses in litigation, and their medical knowledge can contribute to the appropriate resolution of a case. However, ethical issues may arise when physicians appear on behalf of the tobacco industry. Two ways that doctors participate in lawsuits are through depositions (statements given under oath before trial to attorneys, who often use them to prepare the case or develop a strategy) and by testifying in court during trial. The Tobacco Deposition and Trial Testimony Archive (DATTA) is an electronic database of depositions, trial testimony, opening and closing statements, and other material from tobacco lawsuits collected by the Center for Tobacco Use Prevention and Research. At the time the research for this article was conducted, the database included depositions and trial testimony of expert witnesses from 232 smoking and health cases.

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Independent
Information
Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics , Volume 35 , Issue 4 , Winter 2007 , pp. 692 - 698
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics 2007

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