Expert Psychiatric Evidence
Keith Rix
A
guide to what a psychiatrist needs to know in order to prepare
medico-legal reports and become an expert witness.
This book covers the roles
and responsibilities of the psychiatric expert witness in the
context of case and statute law, administration, training and other
practical matters, the medico-legal consultation and the structure
and form of the expert report. Specific chapters deal with
psychiatric reports in criminal, civil and family cases, as well as
inquests, tribunals and other parts of the legal system.
Preparation of reports for jurisdictions in the British Isles
outside England and Wales is covered. Concluding chapters deal with
going to court and maintaining expertise.
It will be of value to
trainee psychiatrists and recently appointed consultants who need a
handbook to assist them as they acquire the training, skills and
knowledge necessary to prepare expert psychiatric evidence for
courts and other legal forums.
- Brings together in a single volume the
requirements of all the relevant rules, guidance and professional
codes of practice.
- Uses analysis of relevant case and statute
law to assist the reader in addressing legal issues with the detail
required by the courts.
- Includes sample letters, consent form,
specimen criminal report, and other documents that can be adapted
for the reader’s own use in medico-legal work.
Readership:
This book is aimed at
psychiatrists who wish to write medico-legal reports and become
expert witnesses, but it will also be a useful resource for
established expert psychiatric witnesses and the solicitors and
barristers who instruct them.
About the author:
Dr Keith Rix is Consultant
Forensic Psychiatrist at The Grange Consulting Rooms, Cleckheaton
and at Cygnet Hospital Wyke, Bradford. His forensic
experience began in the 1960s when he lived in hostels with
ex-offenders and assessed prisoners for after-care hostels.
He has a Master of Laws (Distinction) in Medical Law and
Ethics and is a part-time lecturer in the Department of Law at De
Montfort University, Leicester. He has thirty years
experience as an expert witness.
Contents
Foreword by The Rt. Hon.
The Baroness Hale of Richmond, Justice of the Supreme
Court
Preface and
acknowledgments
- Nature and duties of an expert witness
- Training, contractual, administrative and
other practical matters
- The medico-legal consultation
- The structure, organisation and content of
the generic report
- Reports for criminal proceedings
- Reports in personal injury cases
- Reports for family proceedings relating to
children
- Reports in cases involving capacity
- Reports for tribunals, inquests and other
bodies
- Reports for the Channel Islands, the Republic
of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and Scotland
- Going to court
- Maintaining and developing expertise and
knowing when to stop
Appendices:
- Letter of response to request for a
report
- File front sheet
- Time sheet
- Appointment letter
- Information to accompany appointment
letter
- Letter requesting authorisation to use a
laptop computer within a prison
- Consent form
- Covering letter for a court report
- CPS declaration and self-certificate
- A note on judicial titles and their
abbreviations in England and Wales
- Model criminal report
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"He has poured his wealth of
experience and knowledge into this book ... I can't imagine that
any psychiatrist would not find this book helpful. One of the best
parts of working as an academic is learning from writing as good as
this."
- Expert Witness Institute Newsletter
(EWIN)
"An excellent book, it would be a foolish trainee or new consultant
in psychiatry who did not possess, read and inwardly digest it. The
book deserves a place in the personal library of any expert
witness, however experienced he or she is ...it can also be very
helpful to any lawyer who is involved in instructing or
cross-examining a psychiatric expert witness. ...I
wholeheartedly recommend it."
- The Expert & Dispute
Resolver
(The Academy of Experts)
"Extremely detailed but readable, at times even amusing.
Advice is ...practical, even extending to avoiding staples and
paperclips. All aspects are covered, including secretarial
support, billing, marketing yourself and holidays. This book will
certainly help psychiatrists, perhaps also lawyers, avoid major
mistakes."
- The Advocate
Quote from
the author:
"I have enjoyed thirty years' work as
a psychiatric expert witness and I have equally enjoyed teaching
and training others. I am pleased to have been given the
opportunity to use this experience to write a book on the subject
before I retire."
- Keith Rix
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