M.J. Canary - Mock Trial

MJ Canary Degrees?

Dr. M.J. Canary, M.D., M.L., Ph.D.

Where and when did you get your master of laws?

University of Pennsylvania in 2022

Where and when did you get your PHD in public health?

Kalmia University in 1993

Where and when did you complete your residency in Family Medicine?

Kalmia University from 1979-1982

Where and when did you get your MD?

University of Pennsylvania in 1979

Where and when did you get your bachelors degree in Physical Chemistry?

St. Joseph’s University in 1975, I was also Zeta Iota Pi and Phi Beta Kappa

Where have you worked as a professor?

Kalmia University, Wisawe, PA, 1985-Present Drouillard Professor of Family and Community Medicine, 2010-Present Full Clinical Professor of Medicine, 1994-2010 Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, 1985-1994

What do you currently do for a living?

I am a professor of clinical pediatric medicine and the former Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Kalmia University. I practice in the Laurel County community, and I trained many of the physicians who work in our county, including Dr. John Colter.

When did you work for Wisawe Family Medical Associates?

Partner, 1989-1993. Staff Physician,1985-1989

How did you become involved in this case?

I have been asked by John’s insurer to provide an expert opinion in this matter, and I was glad to do it

What are your publications?

Editor and Chapter Contributor, Nasir’s Family Medicine, 2015-Present (5th Ed through 8th Ed.) I have authored or co-authored over four dozen publications in peer-reviewed journals and another several dozen in popular or non-academic publications, in addition to two screenplays and an illustrated book of poetry.

What are your honors for the American Academy of Family Physicians?

American Academy of Family Physicians Board Certified, 1987-Present Board Certification Review Committee, Examiner, 2000-2020; Chair, 2007-12

What are your honors for the Association of Departments of Family Medicine?

Kalmia University Representative, 1987-2015 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Chair, 2020-22

What are your honors for Society of Teachers of Family Medicine?

Member, 1986-Present Moses Harris Prize for Career Contributions to Family Medical Education, 2023

What are your honors for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Medical Assistance Advisory Committee?

Member, 2015-2022

What are your honors for United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Information Technology and Advisory Committee (HITAC)?

Member/Advisor 2016-2025

What are your honors for Physicians for Common Sense and Tort Reform?

Founder, 2005; Member, 2005-Present; President, 2005-2014

Have you been an expert witness before? In what ways did you testify?

I have only been an expert witness in litigation a handful of times, all defending physicians against efforts to question their medical judgment

What are your thoughts on medical malpractice cases?

Actual medical malpractice is vanishingly rare, in my opinion, and lawsuits should be limited to examples of truly gross mistakes, like leaving a surgical sponge in a patient, or removing the wrong limb.

Please elaborate further on your opinion on medical practice attorneys/plaintiffs?

Too often, insurers pay plaintiff’s attorneys who Monday morning quarterback doctors’ decisions. Virtually every practicing physician has been drained by those parasites, including me!

What did you review to prepare for this case?

In order to form my opinion, I have reviewed all of the medical records in this matter, the other exhibits identified by the parties, and the statements of each other witness.

What’s the simplest and most unfortunate reality here?

Let us begin with the simplest and most unfortunate reality here: Dr. Colter and his staff did not diagnose their patient’s condition.

What should have happened when Bo Bridger presented to Dr. Colters office?

There is no doubt that young Bo Bridger suffered from trichinosis through December 2023. When Bridger presented to Dr. Colter’s office in early December, the only correct diagnosis was trichinosis and the optimal treatment was immediate anti-parasitic medications, which would likely have reduced the harm that Bridger suffered.

What are your thoughts on Bo Bridger consuming the fox? (pg 1)

Bridger brought this tragedy upon herself by following some pseudo-scientific nonsense that led her to kill and consume a young fox in a misguided attempt at improving athletic performance. Undoubtedly, that fox was carrying the parasite.

Did Dr. Colter fail to mitigate the damage?

John was in the position to mitigate the damage of this youthful indiscretion, and he and his staff failed to do so. As a result, young Bridger lost her best chance at a more positive outcome, and she has suffered greatly from the parasite. None of that is particularly disputable

Positive thoughts on Dr. Hart’s diagnosis?

Credit, too, to Dr. Hart for a perceptive diagnosis and for the wisdom to both connect promptly with academic specialists and to insist on intensive care. I tip my cap to Dr. Hart.

What happened when the lawyers entered stage left?

Enter the lawyers, stage left, and soon Dr. Hart is transmuting their own excellent work into the conclusion that anyone who did not match it acted unreasonably or failed in their own duties.

What do you have to say about one Physicians success?

But one physician’s success does not mean that another failed, particularly when the latter had the benefit of more information.

Talk about the benefit of more information? (time, virus)

And make no mistake, time brings information. Consider a virus. The symptoms for one virus may look quite like another in the first few hours, but three days later, we may be able to predict which virus is the culprit even before the first test comes back.