Premex Services

Expert Witnesses Seek Increased Understanding Of Legal Process

At a recent seminar presented by Premex, the UK’s leading provider of medical reporting and rehabilitation services, General Practitioners and consultants met legal professionals and experienced medical experts to discuss the issues surrounding the complexities and requirements of medico-legal reports. 

According to the BMA, medico–legal work can be the most complex area of fee paid work for doctors.  When approached to provide medical reports by a solicitor doctors automatically become a court appointed expert and the contents of their report may have to stand up in court.

Many doctors undertake this type of work with increasing instructions from a medico-legal reporting organisation instructed by the claimant’s solicitor. However few have been formally trained in constructing and presenting this legally binding and influential document.  

The seminar, presented jointly with Premex’s sister company Micrah, addressed the instructing solicitor’s requirements and expectations of a medical practitioner and how to work as an expert witness.  During the one day seminar, delegates tackled what makes a good expert witness; from jargon busting, observing timescales and remaining objective, to VAT issues, smart use of technology and CPR requirements. 

Among the GPs attending was Dr Chesworth, who has been writing medico-legal reports for over 15 years, who commented: “I’ve attended many seminars over the years, but this is the first one to consider the management of reports.  As medical experts we need to understand how involved the process is and how we, and our reports, are audited.”  Also present was Dr Khan, a specialist in pain management, who has been providing Premex with medico-legal reports for three years.  Reflecting on how to enhance his reports Dr Khan added; “When you take the decision to offer this service it is essential that you keep up to date with what is required and expected, and with the progress of the industry.  I now understand the wider implications of my reports and will input changes to my way of working as a direct result of what of have learned today, with particular focus on timescales and the requirements from solicitors.”   

Gordon Healiss, Expert Liaison Director at Premex added, “As the leading medico-legal reporting organisation, it is essential that Premex communicates with its experts and keeps them up to date.  This is to the benefit of all medical experts, instructing parties and most of all, the claimants, to ensure we continue to produce an efficient and high standard of service.”