Your Questions Answered

New attorney inquiries are generally acknowledged within one business day. That initial contact is used to run a conflict check, confirm specialty fit, and understand any deadline you are working against.

There is no single fixed turnaround. The timeline reflects the volume of records, the complexity of the medical issues, the deliverables you need, and my clinical schedule. Before substantive work begins, we agree on a defined scope and an anticipated completion date so you can plan around it.

Sometimes. Expedited review may be available when the requested scope, record volume, applicable deadline, and my clinical availability permit. Please identify any expert disclosure, mediation, deposition, hearing, or trial date in your first message so availability can be assessed early. If I cannot meet the deadline with the care the case requires, I will tell you promptly rather than accept the engagement.

Primary expertise is pediatric emergency medicine: acute pediatric illness and injury, diagnostic delays, sepsis and shock, trauma and head injury, resuscitation, weight-based medication issues, triage, reassessment, and emergency-department deterioration. Selected general pediatric issues may be reviewed when they fall within Dr. Gupta's training and active clinical experience. Multidisciplinary matters may require review by an additional pediatric subspecialist; specialty fit is assessed before engagement.

No. Please do not send records or protected health information through the public contact form. Start with a general, nonconfidential description of the clinical issue. Secure document-transfer instructions are provided after conflict clearance.

Working from your general, nonconfidential description, I identify the central pediatric medical issues, determine whether the matter falls within my expertise, and outline the records or additional specialists that may be needed. This preliminary assessment is not a final expert opinion and does not replace a comprehensive review of the medical record.

Yes. Deposition and trial testimony are offered when a matter requires it, for counsel on either side. Testimony is grounded in the medical record, current literature, and applicable pediatric standards of care, and is explained in plain language for the court and a jury. My opinions do not change based on which party retained me.

I'm board-certified in both Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Medicine, and I actively practice at Children's Hospital of New Orleans. I also teach medical students and residents at LSU Health as a Clinical Assistant Professor. I've published peer-reviewed research and maintain continuing medical education in pediatric care standards. What sets me apart is that I'm not a retired physician looking back at old standards - I am treating patients today under current standards of care.

Yes. Engagements are accepted from plaintiff and defense counsel alike. The analysis follows the same method in either posture: the opinion is anchored in the medical record, the applicable standard of care, and the information available to the treating clinicians at the time — not in the position of the party that retained me.

I maintain active medical licensure in multiple states and review matters nationwide. Many pediatric clinical guidelines and medical principles are national in scope. However, the applicable legal standard, expert qualification requirements, and admissibility rules vary by jurisdiction. Those legal questions are determined by counsel and the court.

Secure processes are available for confidential record transfer after conflict clearance and acceptance of the engagement.

Case confidentiality is important in what I do. After conflict clearance and acceptance of the engagement, counsel receives secure document-transfer instructions. Access to materials is limited to essential personnel, and I maintain strict confidentiality protocols. I'm happy to sign additional confidentiality agreements if your firm requires them.

Yes, I maintain professional liability insurance that specifically covers my expert witness services. If you need coverage details or certificates of insurance, I can provide those to you upon request. This is standard practice and gives you and your firm additional peace of mind.

The fee structure is straightforward. The preliminary case-fit assessment is billed at a flat fee. Comprehensive record analysis and report preparation are billed hourly, and deposition and trial testimony have separate hourly rates. A detailed fee schedule is provided at the outset. Fees are for time spent and are never contingent on the outcome.

Yes, a retainer is required before work begins. The amount varies with scope — a preliminary case-fit assessment requires less than a comprehensive record review with testimony. Any unused retainer is refunded at the conclusion of the engagement, so counsel pays only for work actually performed. Fees are not contingent on the outcome of the matter.

Payment is accepted by check, wire transfer, and major credit cards. Payment terms and invoicing schedules are set out in the engagement agreement, and fees are billed for time spent rather than tied to any outcome.

For depositions, I appreciate at least 2-3 weeks notice when possible, though I understand that's not always realistic in litigation. For trial testimony, 4-6 weeks advance notice is ideal because it ensures my availability and gives me adequate time to prepare thoroughly. Expedited scheduling is accommodated where clinical availability allows.

Expedited review may be available depending on scope, record volume, the requested deadline, and clinical availability. Any expedited fee and completion date are confirmed before the engagement begins.

New attorney inquiries are generally acknowledged within one business day. Please identify any material deadline in the subject line or inquiry.