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Medical Toxicology Expert Witnesses
Independent medical analysis of poisoning, overdose, drug effects, and exposure-related questions.
EMToxLegal provides medical toxicology consultation, record review, and expert testimony for plaintiff and defense counsel. Dr. Shaun Carstairs and Dr. David Tanen are physicians trained in both emergency medicine and medical toxicology, bringing a clinical perspective to the interpretation of exposures, treatment, and outcomes.
Questions a toxicology review can address
- Exposure and clinical effects: the substance involved, available exposure information, symptoms, timing, and clinical course.
- Overdose and poisoning: the circumstances of the event, treatment provided, and potential contribution to an injury or death.
- Drug testing: the clinical significance and limitations of toxicology results in the context of the available records.
- Medication-related events: dosing, adverse effects, interactions, and the management of suspected toxicity.
- Medical causation: the relationship between an exposure and the outcome, including alternative explanations and limitations in the evidence.
Areas considered for consultation
Matters may involve fentanyl and other opioids; alcohol; stimulants; cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids; sedating medications; drug interactions; withdrawal; carbon monoxide; household and environmental exposures; and selected plant, mushroom, or venom-related poisonings.
Each assignment is evaluated for fit with the selected physician’s expertise. Laboratory-method validation, postmortem interpretation, workplace standards, and other specialized questions require a specific scope review rather than an assumption that every toxicology-related issue is covered.
A clinical perspective on complex cases
Cases involving an intoxicated or poisoned patient may also raise questions about emergency evaluation, monitoring, treatment, and disposition. Our emergency medicine background allows the care and toxicology questions to be considered together when appropriate. Explore emergency medicine consultation.
Dr. Carstairs is additionally board-certified in Addiction Medicine. Addiction-related assignments are considered individually with him; this additional certification does not describe every physician in the practice.
Services and deliverables
Available work includes initial case screening, medical-record and literature review, attorney consultation, written opinions and reports, and deposition or trial testimony. Conclusions are based on the evidence reviewed and may be limited or change when material information is unavailable or later supplied.
Starting a review
Provide a short nonconfidential overview, jurisdiction, requested services, and relevant deadlines. Following conflicts and engagement review, useful materials may include clinical and emergency medical services records, medication records, original laboratory reports with specimen and collection details, relevant testimony, and other case-specific records requested by the expert.
Do not upload medical records or sensitive case information through the public inquiry form. Record-transfer arrangements follow initial screening.
Meet Dr. Carstairs | Meet Dr. Tanen | Start a case inquiry
Scope, availability, fees, and anticipated turnaround are confirmed before substantive review begins.