Opinion ID: 463816
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Dr. Richard Albin

Text: 8 The Amended Pretrial Report, filed May 9, 1983, listed Dr. Albin as an expert witness for defendants. He had been generally endorsed to testify about the standard of care for plastic surgeons. At trial, Dr. Albin was qualified as an expert in the area of plastic surgery and burn treatment. In the Pretrial Statement, filed September 21, 1981, he was listed as a witness for St. Anthony Hospital Systems and his expected testimony was described to include the standard of care for the treatment of chemical burns. The district court permitted Dr. Albin to testify about the effects of exposure to 90 percent hydrogen peroxide on skin. Appellant objects to this testimony on two grounds: Dr. Albin had not been endorsed as an expert on hydrogen peroxide nor was he qualified to give such testimony. 9 The purpose of disclosing the topic on which an expert is expected to testify is to minimize surprise at trial. The primary issue involved in this case concerned whether Timothy Perry suffered chemical burns as a result of exposure to a 90 percent concentration of hydrogen peroxide and the appropriate treatment for such exposure. We fail to see how appellants could have been justifiably surprised by Dr. Albin's testimony given the nature of the issue involved and his endorsement. Any discussion of the proper treatment for exposure to a chemical would necessarily involve the effects of exposure to that chemical. Pretrial orders should be construed liberally to embrace topics inherent in the expected testimony described therein. See generally Lurch v. United States, 719 F.2d 333, 339 (10th Cir.1983). Appellants were adequately apprised of the expected testimony of Dr. Albin, and the district court did not abuse its discretion by permitting such testimony. 10 As a plastic surgeon and an expert in the treatment of burns, it was not unreasonable for the district court to permit Dr. Albin to testify as he did despite his limited knowledge of and experience with high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. The degree of expertise or knowledge affects credibility, and appellants had every opportunity to challenge Dr. Albin's credibility during cross-examination. The district court's ruling on this matter was proper.