Dr. Firestone is an expert in neuropsychiatry, forensic psychiatry and legal medicine.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: Licenses to Practice Medicine:
State of California - 1970 (#G019295)
State of Colorado - 1969 (#15996)
State of Hawaii - 1983 (#4736)
State of Maryland - 1966 (#D02126)
State of Texas - 2000 (#K9526)
Thailand - 1971.
Diplomate, National Board of Medical Examiners - 1965.
Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology - 1971; Added Qualification
in Geriatric Psychiatry, 1995.
Diplomate, American Board of Legal Medicine - 1982.
Diplomate, American Board of Forensic Psychiatry - 1985.
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: American Psychiatric Association
American Neuropsychiatric Association
Northern California Psychiatric Society
San Mateo Psychiatric Society
American Academy of Forensic Sciences
The American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology
Forensic Mental Health Association of California
American College of Legal Medicine
American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: INVITED FORMAL PRESENTATIONS
1. Firestone, MH, "Dissimulation Syndromes, Malingering and Factitious Disorders - How to Tell the Faker". California Pacific Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds, January 02, 2001.
2. Firestone, MH, "Forensic Psychiatry Issues related to Medical Malpractice", Psychiatry and Law Seminar, Stanford University Hospital Residency Training Program, August 17, 2000.
3. Firestone, MH, "Forensic Psychiatry Issues related to Tort Law", Psychiatry and Law Seminar, Stanford University Hospital Residency Training Program, August 10, 2000.
4. Firestone, MH, "Medicare Fraud and Abuse - Compliance Issues", Alameda Hospital Medical Staff, July 24, 2000.
5. Firestone, MH, "Physician's Right to Fair Procedure in Managed Care", American College of Legal Medicine 40th Annual Conference on Legal Medicine, San Diego, CA, March 31, 2000.
6. Firestone, MH, "Malpractice Actions for Failure to Warn or Protect Third Parties - Twenty-five Years after the Tarasoff Decision", Conference entitled Medical-Legal Issues for the New Millennium, sponsored by the American College of Legal Medicine, Seattle, WA, October 16,1999.
7. Firestone, MH, "Medical-Legal Aspects of Informed Consent and Discharge Against Medical Advice", Grand Rounds, Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz, CA, January 9, 1998.
8. Firestone, MH & Breithaupt, D, "Medical and Neuropsychiatric Issues Involving Drug
Dependency, Abuse and Addiction", Santa Clara Bar Association, January 6, 1998
9. Seminar Chairman and Lecturer, "Update on Current Medicolegal Issues", sponsored by
International Conferences, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida: March 9-19, 2001; April 11-26,
1999; December 20-28, 1998; March 13-28, 1998; December 24, 1997-January 3, 1998;
November 22-December 7, 1997; April 5-20, 1997;August 4-15, 1996; March 23-30, 1996;
October 28-November 19, 1995; October 11-26, 1994; June 15-28, 1993; March 19-30,
1993; June 24-July 7, 1992; July 4-14, 1991; April 5-15, 1991; November 1-17, 1990; July
18-29, 1990; July 19-August 1, 1989; April 24-May 10, 1989; July 2-14, 1988; September
19-27, 1987.
10. Firestone, MH, "Mental Health Law", American College of Legal Medicine Midyear
Educational Conference, Chicago, IL, October 17-18, 1997.
11. Seminar Chairman and Lecturer, "Forensic Psychiatry and Legal Aspects of Psychiatric
Practice", sponsored by American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C., January 30 -
February 8, 1997.
12. Firestone, MH, "Aggression in Head Injury Patients", Rehabilitation Unit, Sequoia Hospital,
Redwood City, CA, December 6, 1996.
13. Firestone, MH, "MCOs & Hospital Peer Review; Corrective Actions & Economic
Credentialling", Doctors in Distress; A Day with the Judges - Health Care Liability Issues in
the Era of Managed Care, sponsored by INTEGRIS Health and The American College of
Legal Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK, November 22, 1996.
14. Firestone, MH, "Testamentary Capacity", Probate Section, San Mateo County Bar
Association, Redwood City, CA, October 16, 1996.
15. Firestone, MH, "Patient and Client Abuse and Psychiatric Liability", Conference on Liability
Issues in Health Care, sponsored by the American Bar Association in cooperation with the
American College of Legal Medicine and the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics,
San Francisco, CA, April 7, 1995.
16. Firestone, MH, "Informed Consent as it Relates to Treatment of Depression", sponsored by
Smith Klein Beecham, Menlo Park, CA, March 30, 1995.
17. Firestone, MH, "Medical-Legal Implication of Chronic Pain Syndrome", 35th Annual
Conferenceon Legal Medicine, American College of Legal Medicine, Lake Buena Vista, FL,
March 18, 1995.
18. Firestone, MH, "Psychotropic Drugs and Brain Injury: `Dual Diagnosis Issues'", Dominican
Hospital, Santa Cruz, CA, December 2, 1994.
19. Firestone, MH, "Medicolegal Aspects of Head & Neck Injury", American College of Legal
Medicine Mid-Year Educational Conference, Philadelphia, PA, November 4, 1994.
20. Firestone, MH, Keynote Speaker, Philadelphia Medical-Legal Society Annual Meeting,
"Conspiracy to Defraud: The Silent Epidemic of Head Injuries and Simulated Claims - A
National Medical-Legal Problem", November 4, 1994.
21. Firestone, MH, Robbins, G, "Psychotropic Drugs and Brain Injury". Workshop sponsored by
Del Mar Caregiver Resource Center, Santa Cruz, CA., August 24, 1994.
22. Firestone, MH, "Malingering in the Head Injured Patient", 2nd Annual Medical Legal
Seminar, co-sponsored by Benchmark and the American College of Legal Medicine, El
Cerrito, CA., August 5, 1994.
23. Firestone, MH, Keynote Speaker, San Mateo Psychiatric Society, "Post-Concussion &
Psychogenic Brain Syndromes - But Can the Malingerer Be Detected?", July 19, 1994.
24. Firestone, MH, "Organic Mental Disorder Simulation Syndromes - Can the Malingerer be
Detected?", Educational Conference, Mental Health and Rehabilitation Division, V.A.
Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, June 8, 1994.
25. Yudofsky, SC, Hales, RE, Silver, JM, and Firestone, MH, - Task Force on "Traumatic Brain
Injury" at the 1994 Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, Philadelphia,
PA, May 23, 1994.
26. Yudofsky, SC, Hales, RE, Firestone, MH, Lovell, M, & Silver, JM - "Assessment &
Treatment of Head Trauma" at the 1994 Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric
Association, Philadelphia, PA, May 22, 1994.
27. Firestone, MH, "The Simulation of Organic Mental Disorders Due to Brain Injury -
Detection and Diagnosis", Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds, "Assessing Head Injury",
California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, November 30, 1993.
28. Firestone, MH, "Dealing with Depression in Chronic Illness", American Lung Association of
San Mateo County, Sequoia Hospital District, Redwood City, CA, November 15, 1993.
29. Firestone, MH, "Simulation of Brain Injury-Caused Organic Mental Disorder", American
College of Legal Medicine Mid-Year Educational Conference, San Antonio, TX, Oct 21-23,
1993.
30. Firestone, MH, "The Forensic Examination in Head Injury"; "The Forensic Examination in
Chronic Pain Syndrome"; Panel on "The Neuro-psychological and Neuropsychiatric
Evaluation"; and Moderator and Panel Member on "The Preparation of a Psychological Injury
Case by Insurance Counsel", The National conference on Psychological Injury Claims and
Litigation sponsored by The Georgetown University School of Medicine, Palm Beach,
Florida, June 10-11, 1993.
31. Firestone, MH, et al., "Legal Considerations and Risk Management for the Dental
Profession", Co-sponsored by the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus and
the American College of Legal Medicine, San Juan, P.R., June 6, 1993
32. Yudofsky, S, Hales, R, Silver, J, Firestone,MH, and Arlinghaus, K, "The Assessment &
Treatment of Patients with Neuropsychiatric Disorders - Forensic & Legal Issues", The 146th
Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, San Francisco, CA, May 26-27,
1993.
33. Firestone, MH, "Assessment of Pain and Suffering in the Brain Damaged Newborn and
Affected Parents", American College of Legal Medicine Conference on Obstetric and
Neonatal Malpractice, Boston, MA, May 7, 1993.
34. Firestone, MH, "How Psychiatrists can Prevent Legal Problems", Keynote Speaker, San
Mateo Psychiatric Society, San Mateo, CA, April 20, 1993.
35. Firestone, MH, "Forensic Psychiatry" - Course for candidates for Board of Legal Medicine
exam, American Board of Legal Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada, March 13, 1993.
36. Firestone, MH and Bisbing, SB, "Neuropsychiatric Aspects of Head Trauma", American
College of Legal Medicine, Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, March 12, 1993.
37. Firestone, MH, Tennenhouse, D, "Informed Consent and the Assessment of Competency",
San Mateo County General Hospital, San Mateo, CA, Jan 20, 1993.
38. Firestone, MH, et al, Panel on "Case Clinic: Head Injury and Toxic Exposure", The National
Insurance Defense Conference and Seminar, Washington, D.C., December 6, 1991 and Los
Angeles, CA, July 14, 1992.
39. Firestone, MH and Smith, LR, "Back Injury Claims and Chronic Pain Syndrome", The
National Insurance Defense Conference and Seminar, Washington, D.C., December 6, 1991
and Los Angeles, CA, July 13, 1992.
40. Firestone, MH, "The Analysis of Head Injury Claims II", The National Insurance Defense
Conference and Seminar, Washington, D.C., December 5, 1991 and Los Angeles, CA, July
13, 1992.
41. Seminar Chairman and Lecturer on Risk Prevention Skills, University of New Mexico
Hospital Physicians and New Mexico Medical Assoc., Albuquerque, N. M., May 15-16, 1992.
42. Firestone, MH, "Coping with Problems of the Elderly". Annual Educational Conference of
The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Palm Desert, CA, March 7, 1992.
43. Firestone, MH, "Psychiatrist's Duty to Warn Third Parties", 10th Annual Oklahoma Medical
& Legal Seminar, CHD Risk Prevention and Treatment: Risk Management for Physicians,
Oklahoma City, OK, November 2, 1991.
44. Firestone, MH, "Loss of a Chance Doctrine in Terminal Illness", presented at 10th Annual
Oklahoma Medical & Legal Seminar, CHD Risk Prevention and Treatment: Risk
Management for Physicians, Oklahoma City, OK, November 2, 1991.
45. Firestone, MH, "The Analysis of Head Injury Claims"; "Back Injury Claims and Chronic Pain
Syndrome"; and Panel on "Head Injury and Toxic Exposure", Med-Psych Educational
Seminar, Breckenridge, Colorado, August 5-6, 1991.
46. Firestone, MH, "Risk Prevention Skills" Seminar, The Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh,
Pittsburgh, PA, April 20, 1991.
47. Firestone, MH, "Update on Current Medicolegal Issues" Seminar, sponsored by International
Conferences, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, April 5-15, 1991.
48. Firestone, MH, Tennenhouse, D, "Risk Prevention Skills" seminar at International Conference
on Legal Medicine, New Orleans, LA, March 9, 1991.
49. Firestone, MH, "Forensic Psychiatry", course in Legal Medicine to Board of Legal Medicine
candidates, International Conference on Legal Medicine, New Orleans, LA, March 9, 1991.
50. Firestone, MH, "Decade of the Brain - Neuropsychiatric Disorders and the Law",
International Conference on Legal Medicine, New Orleans, LA, March 7, 1991.
51. Firestone, MH, Chairman, Panel on "Brain Injury", International Conference on Legal
Medicine, New Orleans, LA, March 7, 1991.
52. Firestone, MH, "PTSD vs. Post Concussive Syndrome vs. Simulation", Amer. Academy of
Forensic Sciences, Anaheim, CA, Feb 22, 1991.
53. Firestone, MH, "Legal Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry Update" Seminar, International
Conferences, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Nov 1 - 17, 1990.
54. Firestone, MH, Panel Presentation, "Disruptive Medical Patients: Ethical/Forensic
Perspectives", American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, Annual Meeting, October 27,
1990.
55. Firestone, MH and Tennenhouse, D, Seminar on "Risk Prevention Skills", American College
of Legal Medicine Mid-year Education Conference, San Francisco, CA, Oct 6, 1990.
56. Firestone, MH, "Assessment: Is the Care Provider Disabled, Deceived, Deluded, or Dated?
Is the Process Dishonest? Is there Discrimination?", American College of Legal Medicine
Mid-year Education Conference, San Francisco, CA, Oct 4, 1990.
57. Firestone, MH, "Assessment of Head Injury Claims"; "Neuropsychiatric Evaluation of Head
Injury"; and Panel on "Toxic Encephalopathy", Med-Psych Educational Seminar, Jackson
Hole, Wyoming, Aug 8-9, 1990.
58. Firestone, MH, and Goldsmith, LS, ìDirect and Cross Examination of Medical Experts -
Deposition and Trialî, presented at the 30th International Conference on Legal Medicine,
Orlando, FL, March 16, 1990
59. Firestone, MH, "Medical Staff and Disciplinary Board Corrective Actions", presented at the
30th International Conference on Legal Medicine, Orlando, Florida, March 15, 1990.
60. Firestone, MH, "Twenty-first Century Health Care - Legal Trends", presented at the Mid-year
ACLM co-sponsored educational conference with the Baptist Medical Center of Oklahoma,
Legal Aspects in Nursing and Medicine: The Crossroads of a Decade, Oklahoma City, OK,
October 6, 1989.
61. Firestone, MH, "The Defense of Psychiatric Evidence", Presented to Med-Psych Educational
Seminar, August 17, 1989.
62. Firestone, MH, "Forensic Hypnosis", American College of Legal Medicine, Mid-year
Education Conference, Portland, Oregon, June 9, 1989.
63. Firestone, MH, "Teaching Legal Medicine to MPH and HSA Graduate Students", 29th
International Conference on Legal Medicine, Rancho Mirage, California, March 4, 1989.
64. Seminar Co-Chairman, "Legal Aspects of Economic Issues Affecting Nursing Homes",
sponsored by the American College of Health Care Administrators, San Juan, Puerto Rico,
November 7-15, 1988.
65. Firestone, MH, "The Impaired Physician and Peer Review", presented to the A.M.A.
Conference on the Impaired Physician, Chicago, Illinois, October 29, 1988.
66. Firestone, MH, "99th Congress' Imprint on Hospital Staff Privileges and Emergency Care",
presented at the 28th International Conference on Legal Medicine, Ft Lauderdale, Florida,
April 8, 1988.
67. Firestone, MH, Keynote Address: "Hospitals as Watchdog", The George Washington
University Health Service Administration Annual Conference, March 30, 1988.
68. Firestone, MH, "Becoming a Medical Expert Witness", ABA National Institute on Medical
Malpractice, Denver, March 20, 1987.
69. Firestone, MH, "AIDS - Employer's Duty to Warn Others", AIDS: A Medical Crisis - Legal
Aspects Conference, sponsored by Legal Medicine Seminars, Inc., New Orleans, LA,
February 9, 1986.
70. Firestone, MH, "Acquisition of Expert Testimony and Contractual Arrangements between
Attorney and Expert", Mid-year Educational Conference, co-sponsored by the American
College of Legal Medicine and the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law,
Albuquerque, NM, October 19, 1985.
71. Firestone, MH, "Malicious Deprivation of Hospital Staff Privileges", presented to the 25th
International Conference on Legal Medicine, New Orleans, LA., May 1985.
72. Firestone, MH, "Informal Discovery and the Physician-Patient Relationship", presented to the
24th International Conference on Legal Medicine, Scottsdale, AZ, May 1984.
73. Firestone, MH, "The Physician-Attorney as Co-counsel in Litigation Involving Medical
issues", presented to the 23rd International Conference on Legal Medicine, Kona, Hawaii,
May 1983.
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: Over 250 times
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Neuropsychiatry; Legal Medicine
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: 50%
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: 50%
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: 50+
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: February 15, 2005
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: 30+
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: 30+
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: approx. 25
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Evaluations, Consulting, Testing, Reports, Testimony
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: 475
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: 475
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: 550
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: 550
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: Travel and lodging expenses, long distance call charges, copy fees
References
Ed Pliska, Esq.Corey, Luziach, Gemello, Manos & Pliska
700 El Camino Real
P.O. Box 669
Millbrae, CA 94030
650-871-5666
Bryan Jones, Esq.
225 South Cabrillo Highway
Suite 111-C
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
650-726-7578
