GUIDANCE FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS ACTING AS PROFESSIONAL OR EXPERT WITNESSES
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has today published Acting as a professional expert or witness The guidance, which follows a recommendation in Sir Norman Williams’ Review of Gross Negligence Manslaughter in Healthcare, has been endorsed by nine healthcare professional bodies on behalf of over 70 healthcare separate professional organisations representing doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, allied health professionals, optometrists and healthcare scientists (listed below).
Importantly, the General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health and Care Professions Council, General Pharmaceutical Council, General Dental Council and General Chiropractic Council have all confirmed that the advice set out in this guidance is consistent with their standards and guidance as regulatory bodies.
Whilst the guidance was produced in response to the Williams inquiry recommendation there have been concerns about aspects of the role of expert witnesses for some time. Whilst professional bodies cannot act to regulate professional witnesses this guidance, aimed specifically at clinical professionals who provide an expert opinion or act as professional or expert witnesses in courts or tribunals, clearly states what healthcare professional bodies expect of their members in terms of standards, training and behaviour when acting as a witness
Professor Carrie MacEwen, Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said
“Being an expert witness is an important and valuable role. It is essential is that clinicians acting in these roles are properly trained, fully up to date and act with complete integrity.
Having this guidance endorsed by such a range of professional bodies and supported by professional regulators is a significant step. I believe this guidance will help ensure and maintain the required standards as sought by Sir Norman Williams Review”
Professor Sir Norman Williams said
“The review which I led into gross negligence manslaughter in healthcare identified problems with the expert evidence provided by healthcare professionals in both criminal and regulatory proceedings. The review recommended the introduction of standards and better training to ensure greater consistency and higher standards in the evidence provided by medical expert witnesses. The important work taken forward by the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges, which has been agreed with organisations across the profession, is a major step forward in delivering this recommendation.”
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