Chapter 10 – Reports in Cases Involving Capacity Issues
Abstract Since 2000, several jurisdictions have codified a considerable amount of case law relating to capacity, but interpretation of the statutory law is informed by the earlier case law and…
Chapter 9 – Reports for Family Proceedings Relating to Children
Abstract In England and Wales, public law proceedings, sometimes also known as care proceedings, usually involve an application by a local authority to take a child or children temporarily or…
Chapter 8 – Reports in Personal Injury Cases
Abstract In England and Wales, there is a three-year limitation period in most personal injury actions. In some HCA cases, and in professional negligence cases, it is six years. This…
Chapter 7 – Reports for Criminal Proceedings and in Prison Cases
Abstract In a criminal case, the defence, the prosecution or the court may instruct you. You may be asked to assess an accused, a complainant or another witness or a…
Chapter 6 – The Report, Amendments, Answers to Questions, Experts’ Meetings and Conferences
Abstract The purpose of the report is to communicate your opinion so as to assist the court as to the matters in issue and enable it to do justice. Consider…
Chapter 5 – The Medicolegal Consultation
Abstract In cases involving medical issues, the medicolegal consultation, comprising history-taking and examination, supplemented sometimes by tests or investigations and, wherever possible, information from an informant, lies at the heart…
Chapter 4 – Business Matters
Abstract It is from the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) or Ireland’s Health Service Executive or public voluntary hospitals that you are likely to start your expert witness career. Be…
Chapter 3 – Training, Development and the Maintenance of Expertise
Abstract In AWLP, the GMC states: ‘You should consider undertaking training for the role (of expert witness)’. This does not go far enough. You must be trained: Chapter 3 Training,…
Chapter 2 – Courts, Laws and Procedures
Abstract There is a world of difference between an agricultural land tribunal (ALT) held in the bar of a country hotel and an Old Bailey murder trial. The ALT panel…
Chapter 1 – The Expert Medical Witness
Abstract At least since 1282, when a coroner called a surgeon to advise whether an arrow injury to the chest could be fatal (Sayles 1936), doctors have been needed to…
