X-Rays: How to Get Them into Evidence.

X-ray are essentially a type of photograph and are admissible if:

1.The x-rays are authenticated, and

2.The x-ray technician’s competence is shown.

The sponsoring witness must establish that the x-ray is a “true and accurate representation of the evidence portrayed.” Lewis v. State, 730 N.E.2d 686, 690-691 (Ind. 2000), citing to, Labelle v. State, 550 N.E.2d 752, 754 (Ind. 1990); Lewis v. State, 730 N.E.2d 686, 691 (Ind. 2000). In this regard, if the x-ray is shown to have been taken by a regular x-ray technician in a hospital, no further showing of the technician’s qualifications or the machine’s reliability is necessary. Howard v. State, 264 Ind. 275, 342 N.E.2d 604, 608–609 (1976). Typically, the doctor ordering the x-rays is familiar with the group takiing the x-rays and is able to vouch for their competency and reliability.