A few years ago a message from a legal team made its way to me very informally. It started with an attorney sending out a general message for help with a medical question to a listserv. I thought: Is this really how public defenders access this resource? Turns out the answer was yes. Which led me to the question: How can a legal team be expected to decipher medical information without help? After asking this question of many attorneys providing indigent defense, it became clear that this is not a readily accessible resource. This didn’t sit well with me, so I set out to understand the problem.

I started to review cases in a “pro bono” fashion with the goal understanding the degree to which medical review services may be needed. Referrals have thus far been through word-of-mouth, and I have now received requests for cases that are pre-file, currently being litigated, post-conviction, and for civil rights violations. In other words, the need is far more widespread than I had anticipated.

I believe that the values of physicians, and other clinicians, are aligned with the principles of those who practice public defense and civil rights law. The presumption of innocence and the right to zealous representation should be held in as high esteem in the legal system as is our oath to “do no harm” as medical providers. To that end, and knowing the large gap in medical consultation resources afforded to indigent clients, my goal is to build a nationwide network of medical providers who share in this belief, and will be at the ready to provide assistance to these legal teams.