Why more docs are ditching clinic hours for this lucrative side gig

Karen Leitner, MD, a board-certified internist and pediatrician, recently posted a question to her Instagram followers that stopped a lot of physicians in their scrolling tracks:

Women physicians: Any of these sound good?

• A) Making money ($300–$900 an hour) using medical expertise you already have

• B) Working remotely on your timeframe

• C) Applying your medical knowledge in interesting real-life cases

• D) Helping other doctors get out of bogus lawsuits

Her follow-up? “All, right?"

It’s a fair question—and one that many physicians, especially women, may not have seriously considered. But Dr. Leitner and others are hoping that changes.

The expert witness path: More accessible than you think

There’s a misconception among many clinicians that serving as a medical expert witness is reserved for the hyper-specialized, the retired, or the courtroom-savvy.

Expert witnesses are needed not just for medical malpractice cases, but for a variety of litigation types including:

• Personal injury

• Disability claims

• Workers’ compensation

• Criminal defense

• Insurance fraud investigations

And here’s the kicker: Most of these cases never make it to court, Dr. Leitner writes in her Instagram caption. In many instances, your review of medical records and submission of a report are enough to resolve a case.

It’s not only ethical—it can help your peers

Many physicians hesitate to get involved in the legal system, in part due to fears of being perceived as a “hired gun” or somehow betraying their profession.

But Dr. Leitner reminds us that being an expert witness isn’t about taking sides—it’s about offering honest, medically sound opinions that can protect both patients and physicians.

"Here’s what most doctors don’t realize," Dr. Leitner writes in her caption. "It is ethical. It actually helps other physicians. It’s not just malpractice—there are tons of cases like personal injury and disability that also need your expertise. If you’re in clinical practice, you’re more than qualified."

Done ethically, expert witness work can:

• Prevent frivolous lawsuits from gaining traction

• Highlight substandard care when needed

• Support doctors unfairly accused of negligence

• Improve the legal system’s understanding of medical nuance

Getting started: It’s not as hard as it sounds

If you’re curious about dipping your toes into the expert witness world, here’s a basic roadmap:

• Start with a course or training specific to medical legal review—several are available online.

• Join a physician-led expert witness network or legal consulting firm.

• Consider shadowing an experienced expert for a case or two.

• Familiarize yourself with how to write expert reports and prepare for depositions.

You don’t need a JD. You don’t need courtroom drama. You just need your medical brain—and a willingness to use it outside the exam room.