Medical malpractice cases often begin with a question that sounds simple: Did the care provided contribute to the patient’s outcome? Answering that question can be anything but simple. A medical record may contain hundreds or thousands of pages documenting encounters with multiple providers, diagnostic testing, medications, procedures, changes in condition, and clinical decisions made over an extended period of time. Before an attorney can effectively evaluate the legal issues surrounding a case, the medical story must first be understood. That is where early medical record review can provide significant value.