Tragic Vehicle Collision Leads to Unraveling of Pain and Suffering

Case Overview

This case involves an individual who tragically died in a vehicle accident involving a passenger vehicle that collided with another car. The driver lost control, hitting a guardrail on a newly constructed bridge, going beneath the guardrail, and ultimately plunging into the water. Understanding the circumstances surrounding the accident and the subsequent pain and suffering experienced by the individual prior to death is crucial for the plaintiff's case.

Questions to the Forensic Pathology expert and their responses

How often do you evaluate deceased patients for mechanisms of death?

I evaluate deceased patients for mechanisms of death every working day as a full-time forensic pathologist.

What are some potential etiologies of potential pain and suffering in people who have experienced MVAs such as the one described above?

Any broken bone will result in the most severe pain. Flesh wounds also cause pain, with the severity depending on the location. If drowning is a potential mechanism of death, asphyxia is a very terrifying way to die. Depending on the length of time from injury to death, a sense of doom as death becomes inevitable adds to the suffering.

About the expert

This expert has over 20 years of experience in forensic pathology. They earned a BS in biology from a private liberal arts college and a DO from a medical university in the Midwest. They then completed a residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at a nationally recognized medical center and a fellowship in forensic pathology at a major county coroner’s office. Currently, the expert is dual board-certified in forensic pathology and anatomic and clinical pathology and is a member of a national professional association for medical examiners. They have previously held roles including chief deputy coroner, deputy medical examiner, and forensic pathologist at a large county office. Today, they serve as the chief deputy medical examiner and forensic pathologist for a county coroner’s office in the Midwest, where they also direct a forensic pathology fellowship program. Additionally, they hold academic appointments as a clinical associate professor and clinical assistant professor of pathology at two prominent medical schools in the region.

E-108305

Specialties:

Forensic Pathology

Dr. Wendy Ketner is a distinguished medical professional with a comprehensive background in surgery and medical research. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at the Expert Institute, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the organization's most important client relationships. Dr. Ketner's extensive surgical training was completed at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where she gained hands-on experience in various general surgery procedures, including hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, appendectomies, mastectomies for breast cancer, breast reconstruction, surgical oncology, vascular surgery, and colorectal surgery. She also provided care in the surgical intensive care unit.

Her research interests have focused on post-mastectomy reconstruction and the surgical treatment of gastric cancer, including co-authoring a textbook chapter on the subject. Additionally, she has contributed to research on the percutaneous delivery of stem cells following myocardial infarction.

Dr. Ketner's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree from Yale University in Latin American Studies and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Moreover, she is a member of the Board of Advisors for Opollo Technologies, a fintech healthcare AI company, contributing her medical expertise to enhance healthcare technology solutions. Her role at Expert Institute involves leveraging her medical knowledge to provide insights into legal cases, underscoring her unique blend of medical and legal acumen.