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- Published on: 14 January 2005
- Published on: 20 December 2004
- Published on: 29 November 2004
- Published on: 29 November 2004
- Published on: 4 November 2004
- Published on: 14 January 2005Avoidable pitfalls when writing medical reports for court proceedings in casesShow More
Dear Editor,
In their response to Professor T. J. David’s article, Dr Paul Davis and others complain that his recommendation that parents or carers should be interviewed was “unreferenced and not evidence based.” The need is so obvious that I would be surprised if anybody has bothered to assemble the evidence or generate references.
They say, and I agree with them, that a substantial proportion, (or m...
Conflict of Interest:
None declared. - Published on: 20 December 2004ControversyShow More
Dear Editor,
An expert is instructed to advise the Court and one follows the instructions received - which usually indicate whether a paperwork or clinical exercise is required.
If they are ambiguous or seem to limit one's ability to do an adequate job then one should return to the Court to explain the position and obtain further guidance.
Whilst not taking David's position absolutely on the que...
Conflict of Interest:
None declared. - Published on: 29 November 2004Taking a historyShow More
Dear Editor,
In reading this piece and the published response concerning the merits of personal interviews in child protection cases, I was struck by the sentence introducing the topic which reads: "Most paediatricians would not dream of giving a clinical opinion without taking a history".
Accordingly this week I kept a diary of clinical opinions given. It was a quiet week "off service", there were only...
Conflict of Interest:
None declared. - Published on: 29 November 2004Should expert witnesses interview parents?Show More
Dear Editor,
Professor David's article [1] was, in the majority a helpful guide to those involved in this specialised work. I wonder how many of the readers are involved in this sort of work?
As a recently qualified general paediatrician I was surprised to read his recommendation that expert witnesses should interview the family. In the few child protection cases that I have been involved in as a witnes...
Conflict of Interest:
None declared. - Published on: 4 November 2004Expert Witnesses: Opinion and dogma are pitfalls in medical journalism as well as in reports.Show More
Dear Editor,
Professor David’s review provides a welcome summary of the Code of Guidance for Expert Witnesses in Family Proceedings. All Paediatricians who undertake this type of work should be familiar with the Code of Guidance and have due regard to it. However, Professor David also goes on to express some highly personal opinions which, whilst forcefully argued, are unreferenced and not evidence based. The most...
Conflict of Interest:
None declared.