Requests for Signed AAOS
Expert Witness Affirmation Statements

The AAOS Expert Witness Affirmation Statement identifies the responsibility of an orthopaedic surgeon testifying as an expert witness to affirm that he or she has relevant expertise and will provide true and impartial testimony based on generally accepted standards of care. This statement relies on the principles expressed in the AAOS Code of Medical Ethics and Professionalism and the Advisory Statement on Orthopaedic Medical Testimony. A Fellow or Member who is involved in professional liability cases should make his or her counsel aware of the AAOS Expert Witness Affirmation Statement as well as the AAOS Advisory Statement on Orthopaedic Medical Testimony and the AAOS Code of Medical Ethics and Professionalism. Fellows and Members may access information on-line about whether another orthopaedic surgeon has signed the Expert Witness Affirmation Statement in the Members Only section of the AAOS Expert Witness Program on the AAOS website. Fellows, Members or their attorneys may also request this information by contacting the AAOS Expert Witness Program. The following guidelines will facilitate requests for information regarding signed Expert Witness Affirmation Statements:

Submitting Requests for Signed AAOS Expert Witness Affirmation Statements

• Written requests from law firms must be on letterhead and may be faxed or mailed to:

AAOS Expert Witness Program
6300 N. River Road
Rosemont, IL 60018-4262
Fax: 847-823-8028

• Written requests from Fellows, Members or counsel may be made through aaosexpertwitness@aaos.org. Requests from counsel must include the contact information of the law firm.

Responding to Requests for Signed AAOS Expert Witness Affirmation Statements

• AAOS will only respond to written requests that identify the individual or law firm making the request.

• A copy of the signed AAOS Expert Witness Affirmation Statement will be mailed or faxed to the individual making the request.

• AAOS will maintain a record of responses to requests for signed AAOS Expert Witness Affirmation Statements.

While this feature of the AAOS Expert Witness Program is being implemented, it is possible that information may not be readily available. The lack of requested information does not mean that an individual has not signed the AAOS Expert Witness Affirmation Statement and no implication should be drawn if the requested information is not available.