Pediatrics

Earlier records can establish the child's baseline health, physical abilities, developmental findings, symptoms, functional limitations, and treatment needs before the alleged injury. Those findings can then be compared with later examinations, imaging, therapy records, developmental assessments, and other evidence to identify documented changes. The presence of a congenital condition does not by itself establish whether a later event caused, worsened, or was unrelated to subsequent findings.

The medication order can be compared with the child's weight and age at the time of treatment, the indication, prescribed dose, route, frequency, formulation, organ function when relevant, and documented clinical response. Many pediatric medications use weight-based dosing, but the calculation may also be limited by medication-specific maximum doses or modified by age, body surface area, kidney or liver function, or other clinical factors. Changes in weight therefore can affect dosing, but the appropriate dose should be determined using the dosing guidance applicable to the particular medication and patient.