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Evidence-Based Medicine and Medicine-Based Evidence: The Expert Witness in Cases of Factitious Disorder by Proxy

Dr. Adshead is Consultant Psychotherapist, Broadmoor Hospital, Crowthorne, Berks, UK; Hon. Lecturer, St. George’s Hospital Medical School, London; and Hon. Research Fellow, University of Reading, Reading, UK. Address correspondence to: Gwen Adshead, MRCPsych, Broadmoor Hospital, Crowthorne, Berks, UK RG45 7EG. E-mail: gwen.adshead{at}wlmht.nhs.uk

The UK media has recently devoted much attention to the role of expert witnesses in child protection cases. One or two particular pediatricians who have given expert testimony have been the subject of personal vilification and professional investigation. These cases raise questions about the use of medical expert testimony when there is real uncertainty in the scientific community and the emotional stakes are high. Do doctors use scientific evidence to make diagnoses in the same way that the courts use evidence to make judgments? The cases also raise questions about the personal credibility and trustworthiness of experts: should we allow ourselves to be seen as personally powerful witnesses? Are we responsible for how we are seen by the jury? In this article, these questions are addressed, with the conclusion that distress and anxiety about child maltreatment influences all the players in the justice process and may interfere with the process of justice.

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				C. Bass and G. Adshead Fabrication and induction of illness in children: the psychopathology of abuse Advan. Psychiatr. Treat., May 1, 2007; 13(3): 169 - 177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]