Prosecutor Preference for Forensic Nurse Testimony: Outcome of Expanding a Forensic Program

Area of Science:

• Forensic Nursing
• Trauma Care
• Legal Medicine

Background:

• Forensic nurse examiners (FNEs) play a crucial role in patient care and legal proceedings.
• Evaluating the impact of FNEs on legal outcomes is essential for program development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess how the use of FNEs for trauma patients influences prosecutors' preference for testimony in criminal court.
• To determine the perceived value of FNEs in legal cases.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective chart review of 562 subpoenas from January 2012 to December 2017 was performed.
• Data analyzed included prosecutor preferences for FNEs versus physicians testifying in criminal court.

Main Results:

• Prosecutors preferred FNE testimony in 97.4% (441/453) of cases involving trauma patients.
• Physician testimony preference decreased significantly from 100% to 2.7% post-program expansion.

Conclusions:

• The expanding Forensic Nurse Examiner program's quality is validated by increased prosecutor preference.
• Maturity of the FNE program correlates with greater reliance on their testimony in criminal court.