Reading Medical Records for Criminal Cases: What you need to know without “Googling” every term

Tara Godoy, BSN RN CFN | Godoy Medical Forensics

Tara Godoy is a Certified Forensic Nurse and has been working with Criminal and Civil Attorneys for over 10 years. She has a BS in Nursing from the University of Southern California and currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through consulting and testimony, she has assisted both the prosecution and the defense in obtaining an honest and fair resolution in hundreds of criminal cases.

Along with her nursing staff and physician contractors, Godoy Medical Forensics has consulted on over 1500 cases nationwide and has worked at both the federal and state levels. Tara has been asked to present for national organizations such as the NACDL and the NDIA at their Forensics conferences in Las Vegas. Tara’s main areas of expertise are Strangulation and Blunt Force Trauma, but testimony is also offered on other cases where traumatic injuries occur, or medical record analysis is needed. Tara can be reached at [email protected].

I. Introduction | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

II. Discharge Summary, H&P, Consults | 2:10pm – 2:20pm

1. Review of records that summarize the patient’s care while in the hospital
2. Distinguishing between narrative reports

III. Emergency Department Reports | 2:20pm – 2:30pm

1. Review of the types of records and where to find critical information
2. Brief review of labs

IV. Transport Records | 2:30pm – 2:40pm

1. How to tell the difference between Pre-hospital (911 providers) and Interfacility transports and levels of care provided
2. What information can be critical to your case

V. Surgery and Radiology | 2:40pm – 2:50pm

1. How to read operative reports
2. Where to find the information you need on XRay and CT Scan reports

VI. Medications and Orders | 2:50pm – 3:00pm

1. When is a drug actually given and why orders can be confusing