EXPERT WITNESES

[Alison J Stevens]

Professor Terence Stephenson, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, is worried about being shot at when he puts his head above the parapet and gives expert evidence for the
prosecution,

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/341/jul20_2/c3672

""My feeling was ‘why take the risk of losing my livelihood?’" This is how Terence Stephenson, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health,
explained why he decided five years ago to turn down requests to be an expert
witness in cases where parents are suspected of making up or causing their
child’s illness."

It now seems that expert witnesses for the defence are risking their livelihoods too ... as this article in the 'New Scientist' all too graphically
indicates,

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727713.600-doctor-gagged-for-doubting-shaken-baby-syndrome.html?full=true

"A PATHOLOGIST in the UK who argues that the trademark triad of symptoms of "shaken baby syndrome" (SBS) can have an innocent cause has been prevented from
testifying in court as an expert witness ... The fear of similar outcomes means
that British-based pathologists who dispute SBS are unwilling to take on cases
of alleged child abuse. "It means that no one will take any head injury cases,"
said one, who asked not to be named. "If you disagree with the prosecution, you
risk being called before the GMC.""

I feel sure that the current president of the RCPCH will be outraged at the injustice this represents and make vigorous representations to the GMC on behalf
of a fellow doctor and expert witness so unjustly treated..

Value-medical.