How are x-ray films—radiographs, roentgenograms, and skiagrams different from ordinary photographs?:

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

- An untrained person may take a photograph, but a trained technician or a physician must take an X-ray. Therefore, the photographer of the X-ray must testify in court unless the defense stipulates or agrees to the admission of the X-ray film.
- Unlike most photographs, X-ray films require an expert to explain and interpret them. Therefore, in most situations a licensed physician who has had experience with X-rays must be qualified as an expert witness to testify about the content of the X-ray film.
- Because no witness is capable of testifying to actually seeing the injury depicted by the X-ray, the picture must be admitted as original evidence in order to provide the basis for the opinion of the expert trained in the interpretation of X-rays.