Website of the Department of Health
Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.
You are here:
- Home >>
- Publications >>
- Publications >>
Bearing Good Witness: Proposals for reforming the delivery of medical expert evidence in family law cases - A report by the Chief Medical Officer
-
Document type:Report
-
Author:Department of Health
-
Published date:30 October 2006
-
Primary audience:Professionals
-
Product number:277341
-
Gateway reference:6471
-
Pages:68
-
Copyright holder:Crown
This report reviews the use of medical expert witnesses within the family courts, and specifically in public law Children Act cases. It aims to identify the main problems with the current system and make proposals both to resolve them and to secure a sustainable supply of competent, quality-assured medical expert witnesses for care and supervision cases in the future.
The report was originally commissioned in 2004 by Ministers Dr Stephen Ladyman MP and Mrs Margaret Hodge MP, in response to some very high profile court cases that called into question the quality of medical expert witnesses in certain types of case.
A statistical survey of attitudes to engaging in medical expert witness activity, which informed the CMO's report, is also attached below.
The report makes 16 proposals and has been launched for a period of public consultation, from 30 October 2006 to 28 February 2007 .
Additional links
Ordering publications
Contact details for obtaining hard-copy DH publications.
Help viewing PDFs
Useful tips to ensure you get the most from PDFs and the free Reader program. Topics covered include accessibility, troubleshooting and searching files.
Additional Links
Access keys
