Colorado Law Hosts Mock Medical Malpractice Trial

Listen to the NPR Morning Edition story.

Colorado Law and the CU-Denver School of Medicine collaborated on creating one of the first of its kind in the country and possibly unprecedented medical malpractice course to help medical students practice in a litigious society.

Associate Dean Dayna Matthew, CU-Denver Counsel Patrick O’Rourke, and School of Medicine professor of ethics Jackie Glover created the medical school’s malpractice course to cover all facets of a court case including depositions to the actual trial. Medical students learn about legal proceedings in case they will need to interact with the legal system whether it is for a malpractice suit or if they are called upon as an expert witness. They are also taught how to avoid medical malpractice.

At yesterday’s mock medical malpractice trial, held at the Wolf Law Building, all CU fourth-year medical students served as jurors in the trial. After watching the proceedings from depositions to closing arguments, the students were called on to render a verdict.