Over 10 years of experience supporting criminal attorneys

“My first criminal case literally dropped in my lap. I was subpoenaed for a patient I had taken care of at Stanford University Medical Center and ended up getting a different case with that same defense attorney. The case had 1200 pages of medical records and the attorney was at a loss trying to sort through them all. Hiring a doctor was expensive and he didn’t think he really needed someone to testify, he just needed someone to help him understand how the injuries occurred. I reviewed the records and was able to help him understand that the medical records didn’t support attempted murder for his client. That defense attorney literally jump started my consulting business.” – Tara Godoy, owner of Godoy Medical Forensics, Inc.

We are often asked why our nurses don’t work with the prosecutor’s office, which is interesting, because they do! See our answer here

Godoy Medical Forensics has experience in the following areas:

Why don’t you work with the prosecution on criminal cases?

The prosecution doesn’t often hire experts; they rely on the treating physicians and nurses to testify on the behalf of the state. Explanations of the medical records comes through that same channel or through the medical examiner. The defense has the same options but often want someone to look at it from an outside perspective. Our experts have testified for both the prosecution and the defense and are happy to take any case in which our services are needed.

Why would I hire a nurse, why not just go straight to a physician?

Physicians are expensive, and they are also unnecessary in many cases. Nurses can consult on any medical case and give you the answers you need without emptying your bank account. A report from a nurse is often enough for settlement before trial. Nurses also tend to have better “jury appeal” than most doctors, as their education and background includes educating patients on medical conditions: Nurses are good at explaining medical conditions to non-medical people.

Are you available to consult with me? I’m not in California.

Of course! We have clients nationwide and are growing rapidly. We have nurses in CA, FL and MD and will be adding more in the coming years. We are happy to work with anyone in any state – give us a call!

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Attempted Murder/Assault

In attempted murder, assault  and domestic violence cases, the focus is often on Great Bodily Injury or Significant Bodily Injury enhancements. Our experts will review the injuries in the case to first ensure that they were caused the way the allegations state and also help the attorney assess the severity of injury, the required treatments and any expected complications. Photographs may be used to differentiate sharp trauma from blunt force trauma; help with the identification of patterned injuries; and clarify the timeline of injury. Our reports will provide opinions on causation and/or mechanism.

Domestic Violence/Strangulation

Our experts in strangulation and blunt force trauma offer testimony that is focused on educating the court on what the physical signs of strangulation are or could be, and what symptoms indicate hypoxia (low blood oxygen). The risk of lethality in strangulation cases is related to the level of hypoxia that was reached. Identifying what can be subtle symptoms of hypoxia in these cases can be critical.

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Attempted Murder/Assault

In attempted murder, assault  and domestic violence cases, the focus is often on Great Bodily Injury or Significant Bodily Injury enhancements. Our experts will review the injuries in the case to first ensure that they were caused the way the allegations state and also help the attorney assess the severity of injury, the required treatments and any expected complications. Photographs may be used to differentiate sharp trauma from blunt force trauma; help with the identification of patterned injuries; and clarify the timeline of injury. Our reports will provide opinions on causation and/or mechanism.

Domestic Violence/Strangulation

Our experts in strangulation and blunt force trauma offer testimony that is focused on educating the court on what the physical signs of strangulation are or could be, and what symptoms indicate hypoxia (low blood oxygen). The risk of lethality in strangulation cases is related to the level of hypoxia that was reached. Identifying what can be subtle symptoms of hypoxia in these cases can be critical.

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Elder Abuse/neglect

Elder abuse or neglect cases are often civil in nature, but occasionally they come to us with criminal charges as well. If the case involves a nursing home it is typically related to pressure ulcers and failure to turn the patient to prevent these wounds. More often in criminal cases, elder abuse is from residences where a family member or live-in caregiver is charged with abuse or neglect. We can help sort through the medical records in these cases and determine how/if the medical conditions of the victim contributed to their condition. In neglect and wasting, the victim may have conditions that prevent them from eating or absorbing nutrients. In abuse, there are many conditions and medications that cause the elderly to bruise or fracture easily. We can asses skin integrity to determine susceptibility to skin tears as well.

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Homicide

Our nurses have gone through continuing education in the areas of forensic pathology, which enables them to review autopsy reports and translate them for the attorney. We can help assess if there were medical conditions that contributed to the death of the victim. We can help sort out the traumatic injuries and explain them to the attorney.

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Mental Health

We have nurses experienced in mental health that can help you review the psychological conditions of your client. We have reviewed everything from PTSD to bipolar to personality disorders to schizophrenia. We can help differentiate between the symptoms of the disorder and any street or prescription drug side effects. We can also review medical history for symptoms that reflect suspected or undiagnosed conditions. We also have a psychiatrist who is able to review these cases if an MD is needed for testimony.

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Mitigation

We are frequently asked to review medical records of the defendant for mitigation and sentencing purposes. We are able to write reports that explain the medical conditions and the effects that the conditions will have on the functional level of the defendant; including their activities of daily living such as mobility, bathing and eating. We will discuss the prognosis or life expectancy; and the anticipated complications and future needs. These reports often serve to aid the judge in understanding the complexities of the medical conditions and give a picture of what the life of the defendant will look like in prison.

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Workman’s Comp

The patient is often accused of falsifying injuries for extended periods of time when workman’s comp cases reach a criminal level. This often means voluminous medical records and other discovery. There is typically records and documentation from private investigators, showing the defendant performing activities that are considered beyond his level of disability. We can help sort through the medical records to find the pertinent tests and examinations as well as assess whether the defendant should or should not have been able to play basketball, run a mile, go skiing, play in a band, mow their lawn or whatever it is they were doing that they seemingly shouldn’t have. We also have a great orthopedic surgeon who works with us on these cases, so when they go to trial, we have your expert all lined up.

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