Rheumatology Expert Witness and Case Review Services
Donald Thomas, MD has been a board-certified rheumatologist for more than 30 years and has more than 35 years of clinical experience, with over 20 years of medical-legal work providing case review, expert reports, and testimony in lupus, autoimmune, and musculoskeletal disease.
About Dr. Thomas
Donald E. Thomas, Jr., MD is a board-certified rheumatologist with more than 35 years of clinical experience and over 20 years of medical-legal work. He provides objective case review, written expert reports, and deposition and trial testimony for plaintiff and defense attorneys in matters involving lupus, Sjögren's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, fibromyalgia, and other autoimmune and musculoskeletal conditions.
Dr. Thomas is the author of The Lupus Encyclopedia and Lupus: The Essential Guide. He maintains a full-time clinical rheumatology practice in Greenbelt, Maryland, within the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and reviews cases nationwide. His clinical, academic, and writing experience allows him to explain complex rheumatologic issues in clear, practical language for attorneys, judges, and juries.
Why Attorneys Retain Dr. Thomas
Recognized authority
Author of The Lupus Encyclopedia and Lupus: The Essential Guide, with particular focus on lupus and Sjögren's disease.
Active clinical practice
He treats patients full time in Greenbelt, Maryland, so his opinions are grounded in current clinical practice and contemporary standards of care.
Academic standing
As a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University, he teaches the diagnosis and management of rheumatologic disease.
Balanced and objective
He reviews matters for both plaintiff and defense attorneys, with opinions guided by the medical record, clinical context, and accepted rheumatology standards.
Clear communication
His clinical, academic, and writing experience allows him to explain complex medical issues in practical language for any audience.
Direct access
Attorneys usually work directly with Dr. Thomas rather than through a referral agency or intermediary.
Rheumatology Expert Witness Services
Medical malpractice, personal injury, disability, and causation and aggravation.
Medical record review and case merit
Objective review of records, laboratory results, imaging, and treatment to identify the key issues.
Causation and aggravation
Whether an event, exposure, or treatment decision caused or worsened a condition.
Standard of care
Whether diagnosis, testing, monitoring, and treatment met accepted rheumatology practice.
Disability and prognosis
Functional impairment, work limitations, prognosis, and future care needs.
Written expert reports
Clear, evidence-based reports on diagnosis, causation, standard of care, and prognosis.
Deposition and trial testimony
Testimony grounded in the medical record and explained in understandable terms.
Conditions Reviewed
Lupus and connective tissue disease
Systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's disease, scleroderma, myositis, and mixed connective tissue disease.
Inflammatory arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and other spondyloarthritides.
Vasculitis and autoimmune disease
Giant cell arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, ANCA-associated vasculitis, and related conditions.
Fibromyalgia, hypermobility, and musculoskeletal
Fibromyalgia, hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, gout, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis.
Medication toxicity and monitoring, injury-related worsening, and questions of causation, aggravation, prognosis, and disability.
How the Case Review Process Works
Inquiry and conflict check
Basic case information, the type of case, the side represented, and any deadlines.
Preliminary discussion
A complimentary initial call to confirm fit, discuss deadlines, and provide a CV and fee schedule when appropriate.
Records review
Review of records, laboratory data, imaging, and treatment history.
Opinions and report
Verbal opinions or, when requested, a written expert report addressing diagnosis, causation, standard of care, prognosis, disability, or future care needs.
Testimony
Deposition and trial testimony when a case proceeds.
Please do not send protected health information or extensive case materials until secure transmission has been arranged and a conflict check is complete.
Nationwide Case Review
Dr. Thomas practices in Greenbelt, Maryland, in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and reviews medical-legal cases nationwide. He accepts matters from Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, and other jurisdictions when the rheumatology issues fall within his expertise and no conflict exists.
Attorney FAQ
What is a rheumatology expert witness?
A rheumatology expert witness is a board-certified physician who reviews medical records and provides objective opinions on diagnosis, causation, standard of care, disability, and prognosis in legal cases involving autoimmune, inflammatory, and musculoskeletal disease.
Does Dr. Thomas review both plaintiff and defense matters?
Yes. Dr. Thomas reviews plaintiff and defense matters equally, with objective opinions guided by the medical record, the clinical context, and accepted standards of rheumatology practice.
Can attorneys request a CV and fee schedule?
Yes. Attorneys can use the contact form to request a current CV, fee schedule, or an initial consultation, including the type of matter, a brief case summary, the key medical issues, the side represented, and any deadlines.
Request a Rheumatology Case Review
Request Dr. Thomas’ CV, fee schedule, or a complimentary initial consultation. Please include the case type, side represented, key rheumatology issues, important deadlines, and whether testimony or a written report may be needed.
Attorney inquiries may call 301-842-7321Initial inquiries do not create a physician-patient relationship or establish an expert-witness engagement. Retention occurs only after a conflict check and execution of a written agreement.