Provided that an expert witness: must be a licensed health care provider in at least one state; routinely treat or routinely treated within the previous five years the subject matter of the malpractice claim; and demonstrate a familiarity with the standards of care and practice as related to the subject matter of the malpractice claim. In cases involving treatment recommended by a physician, an expert witness may not testify on issues of negligence or standards of care unless the witness is also a physician. In addition, a witness qualified as an expert in a medical specialty that is unrelated to the malpractice claim may only testify if it can be proven that the standards of care and practice in the two specialties are substantially similar.
