Edna Beal, a 56-year-old diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy, presents with Murphy's sign (painful, palpable liver). Based on these findings, which specialist should she be referred to?

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The key idea here is that signs pointing to liver or biliary system involvement steer you toward a liver specialist, not a neurologist or other non-hepatic clinician. A Murphy-type finding with a painful, palpable liver suggests hepatobiliary pathology (such as gallbladder or liver disease) rather than a nerve-root problem. Even though cervical radiculopathy was noted, the liver-related sign takes precedence and the appropriate referral is to hepatology. A hepatologist would order liver function tests and appropriate imaging (like ultrasound or MRCP) and manage conditions affecting the liver and biliary tract. The other specialists don’t address liver-specific disease: neurology handles nerve and spine issues, dietitians focus on nutrition, and cardiologists manage heart conditions.