051: Exploring Legal Options and Outcomes for Survivors with Melissa Hogan

Very few victims of abuse seek out a lawyer for money—most are looking for something else. They want safety, justice, and agency over an impossible situation.

In this episode, I speak to Melissa J. Hogan, attorney, advocate, and author in the field of trauma and abuse, about the legal options available for survivors. She shares where her passion for medical and spiritual trauma comes from, along with several practical tips about how to safely tell your story, collect evidence, and bring abuse to light.

This is an excellent conversation for anyone wanting to know how attorneys can accompany you in your healing.

download Episode Transcript 📄

Guest Spotlight ✨ 

Melissa is an attorney and advocate in the field of trauma and abuse, and co-author of the 2021 book, Afraid of the Doctor: Every Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Managing Medical Trauma. She received her J.D. with an emphasis in health law from the University of Pittsburgh and went on to clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, practice as a corporate/healthcare attorney, and teach legal writing and health care regulatory law.

In 2014, she founded and for many years led the nonprofit Project Alive, a research and advocacy foundation for Hunter syndrome, a rare genetic disease that affects her youngest son. In that season, she developed and patented patient outcome measures, consulted on clinical trial designs, was a featured speaker at industry and FDA conferences, and won numerous awards for her advocacy.

In addition to her book, Melissa has published in peer-reviewed medical journals, writes essays and poetry, and is working on her second book, a memoir of her own experience of domestic, institutional, and spiritual abuse. She has appeared on The Doctors, Inside the NBA, and numerous other broadcasts and podcasts, speaking in the areas of advocacy, trauma, institutional abuse, legal cases, and clinical research.

In her downtime, Melissa enjoys skiing, scuba diving, backpacking, and home improvement projects.

Website | Instagram | Substack | TikTok
 

Links & Resources 🔗

• Boz Law
• Project Alive
• Afraid of the Doctor by Meghan L. Marsac and Melissa J. Hogan on Bookshop | Amazon

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Broken to Beloved is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that works to provide those wounded by spiritual abuse and religious trauma with practical resources moving toward healing and wholeness, and to provide pastors and church leaders with resources to grow in trauma awareness and implement safeguarding practices. Get more information or give a tax-free donation here. 

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