What is an expert affidavit and why is it required in Georgia ER negligence cases?

What is an expert affidavit and why is it required in Georgia ER negligence cases?

Under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-9.1, when a medical malpractice complaint is filed in Georgia, the plaintiff must simultaneously file an affidavit from at least one competent expert who sets forth at least one act of negligence. This expert must be qualified in the same field as the defendant — so in an ER misdiagnosis case, the affidavit must typically come from a board-certified emergency medicine physician. Failure to file a compliant affidavit can result in dismissal of the case. Our firm has established relationships with highly credentialed medical experts across all relevant specialties and has successfully navigated this requirement in numerous Georgia malpractice cases.