Mississippi sets standards for physician expert witnesses

Mississippi's medical board has adopted standards to regulate physicians who serve as expert witnesses. Under the medical board's regulations, Mississippi-licensed physicians who give false expert testimony are subject to disciplinary action, including the suspension or loss of their licenses or a fine of $10,000 to have the board investigate them. Out-of-state physicians who give false testimony could be prohibited from giving further testimony or reported to their own state medical boards.

The move is consistent with recommendations from the American Medical Association and the Federation of State Medical Boards, according to American Medical News (6/19/2006). AMA policy indicates that providing medical expert testimony is considered the practice of medicine, and that such activities should be regulated by state medical boards. An FSMB guide, used to help states adopt or amend medical practice laws, states that fraudulent or deceptive expert testimony should be considered unprofessional conduct and therefore subject to disciplinary action.