Dr. O'Donnell is a Pharmacologist, Pharmacist, and Nutritionist in Barrington, Illinois. His career has included Pharmacy Practice in a variety of settings, and consultations to Industry, Government, HealthCare, Publishing and Legal Fields. He is currently an Associate Professor Pharmacology at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. O'Donnell is a Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Pharmacology, the founding Editor of The Journal of Pharmacy Practice, and an author of Pharmacy Law: Litigating Pharmaceutical Cases as well as DRUG INJURY: Liability, Analysis and Prevention, 1st and 2nd Editions. He is a co-editor of The Process of New Drug Discovery and Development (2006). He consults and testifies in matters involving pharmaceuticals, medication errors, alcohol and drug injuries throughout the United States, for defense and plaintiff's counsel. Dr. O'Donnell received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Illinois, Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from Rush University.
Pharmacists are trained and responsible to be drug experts. The public relies on pharmacists to provide the right drug for the right patient, to assure that there are no allergies, contraindications, or interactions from diseases or other drugs, to advise the patients how to safely and effectively use the drugs to the fullest benefit, with a goal of safe and effective drug therapy. The practice of pharmacy has changed dramatically since my entry into practice. What was once a singular and "independent" practice is now largely a corporate practice, consisting of chains of hundreds of units and employing thousands of pharmacists.
Forensic Legal Casework and Consultation includes:
Practice is approximately evenly divided between defendants and plaintiffs
Drug injury/causation
Pharmacy Standard of Care witness/Civil/Board of Pharmacy
Drug Product liability/warnings/design
Drug Patent and Trademark
Alcohol Toxicology, Kinetics Premises Liability, Dram, Motor Vehicle, and Intoxication
Recreational Drug Toxicology Workplace Personal Injury Workmens Comp
Nutrition
Attorney General Prescription and Healthcare Fraud
Department of Justice/DEA Narcotic Diversion/Prescribing
I routinely consult to several government agencies (Public Health Boards of Pharmacy, Attorney General, Corporation Counsel, US Attorney, Prosecutors, Public Defenders, Congressional Committee on FDA Oversight) in matters related to drugs and pharmacology and toxicology.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: Diplomate-American Board of Clinical Pharmacology
Diplomate-Board of Nutritional Specialties
Registered Pharmacist, Illinois
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: Fellow-American College of Clinical Pharmacology
Fellow-American College of Nutrition
Member- American Pharmacists Association
Member-American Society of Pharmacy Law
Mebmer-American Academy of Clinical Toxicology
Member-American College of Legal Medicine
Member-American College of Legal Medicine
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: Currently an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at Rush University in Chicago. Also Lecturer in Medicine at the University of Illinois.
Past appointments at Oakton College (IL), Northern Illinois University, Purdue University, involved in pharmacology and pharmacy instruction.
I have presented more than 175 invited lectures throughout the United States on topics including Adverse Drug Reactions, Pharmacists Standards of Care, Dangers of Diet Pills, Dangers of Dietary Supplements
Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
A: No
Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
A: ~ 3500 times since 1976
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Nutrition, Toxicology, Alcohol
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: ~50% split based on estimated amount of time spent, not number of retentions
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: ~50% split based on estimated amount of time spent, not number of retentions
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: ~ 400
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: May, 2007
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: ~ 275 times, throughout the Country, in State and Federal Courts
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: ~275 times
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: 31 years
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Consulting, research, expert testimony, site inspections, market research, audits of services, product evaluations, educational programming, publishing and editing, public speaking
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: $550.00 per hour
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: $550.00 per hour
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: $550.00 per hour, 4 hour minimum. Travel time is billed at same rate
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: $550.00 per hour Out of town, 10 hour minimum, $5,500.00 per day
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: Expenses are billed as actual.
