The courts, expert witnesses and fibromyalgia.

Abstract

Fibromyalgia, a condition that sometimes causes disagreement among physicians, has also been debated in several court cases that highlight the role of physicians as expert witnesses. Lawyer Karen Capen says physicians who provide expert opinion in court should be aware that there are specific requirements regarding their qualifications. In an Alberta court case, a judge discounted evidence provided by a rheumatologist who ran a clinic that treated fibromyalgia patients because of his "personal and perhaps financial interest in perpetuating the existence of this condition." The judge ruled that "this particular disorder is often found in individuals who will not or cannot cope with everyday stresses of life and convert this inability into acceptable physical symptoms to avoid dealing with reality."