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Legal Medicine Report Preparation in Australia

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Legal and Forensic Medicine

Abstract

Many clinicians find the interface of medicine and law to be daunting and stressful, and the preparation of a legal medicine report may be the first encounter of this interface. Reports are required either as expert witnesses from people who have specialized knowledge above and beyond that available to the lay public or alternatively they are asked to provide a treating doctor’s report so it can be assessed within the legal system.

A report should include a preamble, setting out the nature and conditions of the consultation together with a history of the present illness, results of physical examination, summary of all supplementary reports (best provided as an appendix to the body of the report), and a formal opinion responding to those questions or suppositions set by the lawyers seeking the report. The report must also include a brief resume, setting out the reasons why the doctor is considered an expert in the area, and should also include acknowledgement of any relevant codes of conduct and an acceptance of the need to adhere to those guidelines or codes of conduct.

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References

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Further Reading

  • Devereux J. Medical Law: text, cases and materials. Sydney: Cavendish Publishing (Australia) Limited; 1997. p. 425. ISBN 1-876213-11-6.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Strategic Health Evaluators, Chatswood, NSW, Australia

    Prof. Roy G. Beran M. D.; F.R.A.C.P ; F.R.C.P.; F.R.A.C.G.P.; F.A.C.L.M. F.A.F.P.H.M.; F.A.C.B.S.;F.F.F.L.M. (Hon); B Leg.S.; Grad. Dip. Tert. Ed. Grad. Dip. Further Ed.; M.H.L. (Conjoint Associate Professor University of NSW, Principal)

  2. Australasian College of Legal Medicine, Canberra, ACT, Australia

    Prof. Roy G. Beran M. D.; F.R.A.C.P ; F.R.C.P.; F.R.A.C.G.P.; F.A.C.L.M. F.A.F.P.H.M.; F.A.C.B.S.;F.F.F.L.M. (Hon); B Leg.S.; Grad. Dip. Tert. Ed. Grad. Dip. Further Ed.; M.H.L. (Conjoint Associate Professor University of NSW, Principal)

  3. World Association for Medical Law, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Prof. Roy G. Beran M. D.; F.R.A.C.P ; F.R.C.P.; F.R.A.C.G.P.; F.A.C.L.M. F.A.F.P.H.M.; F.A.C.B.S.;F.F.F.L.M. (Hon); B Leg.S.; Grad. Dip. Tert. Ed. Grad. Dip. Further Ed.; M.H.L. (Conjoint Associate Professor University of NSW, Principal)

  4. School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

    Prof. Roy G. Beran M. D.; F.R.A.C.P ; F.R.C.P.; F.R.A.C.G.P.; F.A.C.L.M. F.A.F.P.H.M.; F.A.C.B.S.;F.F.F.L.M. (Hon); B Leg.S.; Grad. Dip. Tert. Ed. Grad. Dip. Further Ed.; M.H.L. (Conjoint Associate Professor University of NSW, Principal)

  5. University of NSW, South Western Clinical School, Liverpool Hospital, Elizabeth Drive, Liverpool, NSW, Australia

    Prof. Roy G. Beran M. D.; F.R.A.C.P ; F.R.C.P.; F.R.A.C.G.P.; F.A.C.L.M. F.A.F.P.H.M.; F.A.C.B.S.;F.F.F.L.M. (Hon); B Leg.S.; Grad. Dip. Tert. Ed. Grad. Dip. Further Ed.; M.H.L. (Conjoint Associate Professor University of NSW, Principal)

Authors
  1. Prof. Roy G. Beran M. D.; F.R.A.C.P ; F.R.C.P.; F.R.A.C.G.P.; F.A.C.L.M. F.A.F.P.H.M.; F.A.C.B.S.;F.F.F.L.M. (Hon); B Leg.S.; Grad. Dip. Tert. Ed. Grad. Dip. Further Ed.; M.H.L.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roy G. Beran M. D.; F.R.A.C.P ; F.R.C.P.; F.R.A.C.G.P.; F.A.C.L.M. F.A.F.P.H.M.; F.A.C.B.S.;F.F.F.L.M. (Hon); B Leg.S.; Grad. Dip. Tert. Ed. Grad. Dip. Further Ed.; M.H.L. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia

    Roy G. Beran

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© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Beran, R.G. (2013). Legal Medicine Report Preparation in Australia. In: Beran, R. (eds) Legal and Forensic Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32338-6_125

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