Expert witnesses: opinion and dogma are pitfalls in medical journalism as well as in reports

摘要

Professor David’s leading article1 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, while forcefully argued, are unreferenced and not evidence based. The most obvious example in the article is Professor David’s views on interviewing the parents or carers. He comments that "a paediatrician who does not attempt to interview the parents risks being criticised for by-passing the usual routines and failing to consider all aspects of the case".