Susan Pedwell

Who hasn’t made a typo? Everyone has, but in a medical expert’s report, a typo could call into question the physician’s credibility. The report, perhaps an Independent Medical Examination (IME), is presented in an adversarial setting. A lawyer could pounce on the typo, arguing that it shows that the physician isn’t attentive to details. From there, the typo could lead the lawyer to question the expert’s professionalism and the report’s integrity.

As a medicolegal (medical+legal) editor, I endeavour to protect the medical expert’s standing by drawing attention to typos and ensuring that dates, the names of other healthcare providers, and their findings and referrals are accurate. So many things can go wrong on a page. The claimant could be June Queen on page 1, become Jane Queen on page 6, and June King later on. 

A medical and health writer, copy editor, and proofreader with more than 20 years of experience, I can spot a typo or inconsistency from 20 feet. My role is to help medical experts clearly communicate their findings and conclusions, and I take that role seriously. As a graduate of the 12-module Editorial Freelancers Association course “Medicolegal Report Editing,” I provide top-notch proofreading and quality assurance for all types of medicolegal reports.