What is an orthopedic expert medical witness?

An orthopedic expert medical witness is someone with an expert level of knowledge often called upon by a defense or plaintiff attorney to give an opinion regarding a medical evaluation and treatment that is in dispute.  In orthopedics an expert medical witness is usually board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, a member of the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, may have a subspecialty focus with membership to a subspecialty society such as the American Foot and Ankle Society, and is a member of the AAOS Expert Witness Program.