Lawyer Monthly - January 2022 Edition

Joseph Borrelli Jr, MD, MBA West Coast Musculoskeletal Institute 14555 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34613 Tel: +1 352 556 4823 E: jborthodoc58@gmail.com www.orthosurgeontampa.com Dr Borrelli earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maine (with Distinction) and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Florida, as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas. Over the course of his 27-year career, Dr Borrelli has published more than 85 peer-reviewed articles, numerous book chapters and has co-edited three orthopaedic textbooks. Dr Borrelli has been certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery continuously since 1997 and has been an active member of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association since 1989 and is currently a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr Borrelli currently enjoys a full-time orthopaedic practice in west central Florida. His practice includes total joint replacement and the treatment of traumatic musculoskeletal injuries including their complications. One of the areas of orthopaedic surgery that Dr Borrelli focuses his attention to is the diagnosis and treatment of acute compartment syndrome (ACS) and well-leg compartment syndrome (WLCS). EXPERT WITNESS 65 JAN 2022 | WWW.LAWYER-MONTHLY.COM syndrome, are often devastating for the affected patient. In certain situations the diagnosis of an ACS is straightforward, while at many times the diagnosis can be difficult to make definitively. Physicians and trainees need to understand the pathophysiology of a compartment syndrome, which means they must be familiar with the most common presenting signs and symptoms of an ACS and patient and clinical factors that can make an accurate and timely diagnosis difficult. I have also taken a particular interest in this topic I believe being an expert witness helps physicians police their own profession. as a medical professional also because of my trauma training and vast clinical experience in the field and have developed a thorough understanding of ACSs. I am therefore well positioned to decipher from complex, confusing, and sometimes inconsistent medical records what took place regarding the development and treatment of an ACS. By doing so I can provide an objective expert opinion that may exonerate a physician or physicians that did the right thing or a patient that was treated incorrectly. What attracted you to the idea of specialising as an expert witness? Being an expert witness allows me the opportunity to use my education, training, and vast clinical experience to help determine what may have gone wrong, how an untoward outcome could have been prevented and help differentiate between a bad outcome from substandard clinical care. It also allows me the opportunity to help patients and physicians who may have been harmed or unjustly accused of wrongdoing respectively. Furthermore, being an expert witness is intellectually stimulating and challenging, and I believe being an expert witness helps physicians police their own profession. What advice would you offer to young medical students looking to enter your line of work? Orthopaedic surgery is an exciting and innovative field. Orthopaedic residencies are still one of the most sought-after residencies and generally only those students in the top of their medical school class are considered for such a position. Orthopaedic surgery is a demanding field and requires dedication and the desire to help others and make a difference in patients’ lives. The hours are long, the demands are great – at times almost never-ending – but the rewards are great too. Orthopaedic surgeons are often thought as the “go-to” surgeon, particularly when an injured patient’s life, or limbs, are on the line. It is a noble profession and much-needed in this day and age when people are living longer and remaining active well into their 80s. Can you tell us anything about your plans for the coming year? In the coming year I plan on continuing to provide exceptional, compassionate and evidence-based patient care. I plan to continue to contribute to the current body of knowledge, in the field of orthopaedic surgery, by continuing my current research and editing activities. I also plan on continuing to provide well-thought-out, nonbiased, evidence-based expert opinion when retained. - About Joseph Borrelli Jr, MD, MBA -