Certificates of Merit

One major obstacle an injured person has to overcome in many states is the requirement that they file a "certificate of merit" with the courts. A certificate of merit confirms that the injured person's lawyer has met with an accepted medical expert about her case who has confirmed that her medical malpractice claim warrants redress. To prepare a certificate of merit, your medical malpractice lawyer will consult with a medical expert, usually another physician. This expert will review your medical records and certify that your medical provider deviated from standard accepted medical practices in your case, and that this deviation resulted in your personal injury from medical malpractice.