Homepage
Login
Profile
BookClubs
dmBox
Read Ebook: The Days of Mohammed by Wilson Anna May
Font size:
Background color:
Text color:
Add to tbrJar First Page Next Page Prev Page
Ebook has 1412 lines and 66143 words, and 29 pages
Stepping stones of medical evidence, 57
Sudden death, vital activities preceding, 48
Suicide, threatened or attempted, 54
To escape attending as witness, 13
Vital activities preceding sudden death, 48
Witness, to escape attending as, 13
Witnesses, classes of, 8
CLASSES OF MEDICAL EVIDENCE AND WITNESSES.
Notify directly to the Coroner all deaths, the certificate of the cause of which you are unable to sign .
Most of the cases in which you give medical evidence are those in which you have declined to sign a certificate of the cause of death.
There are also those cases in which the relatives object to your treatment, and those in which the registrar refers your certificate to the Coroner.
Demand a formal interview by appointment during professional hours with a responsible superior; otherwise you may receive no fees.
Should you receive threatening letters, demanding blackmail, or otherwise without reasonable cause, at once put them into a good solicitor's hands. "Let this action be a lesson for all men to stand boldly forward--to stand on their character--and not, by compromising a present difficulty, to accumulate imputations on their honour." Associate yourself permanently with a Medical Defence Society.
TO ESCAPE ATTENDING AS A WITNESS:
THE PREPARATION OF EVIDENCE.
Decide what exhibits and sketches you will hand in. Label, initial, and number them. If they are returned to you after the trial, preserve them for possible future use .
All clinical notes and personal memoranda should be destroyed upon the death of a medical practitioner, who should see that his Will contains such a direction.
MEDICO-LEGAL EXAMINATION OF THE LIVING, THE DYING, AND THE DEAD.
If possible, choose a time such that you can complete the enquiry at one sitting, as it may be final.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF THE LIVING AND OF THE DYING, FOR THE PURPOSE OF EVIDENCE.
Never take directions from a third person .
The payment of the fee by a third person does not absolve from the rule of professional secrecy.
EXAMINATION OF THE DEAD.
The body should be identified in your presence; if it cannot be identified, special care must be taken with the inspection. A photograph should be taken at once.
The appearance of the corpse, both when clothed and when stripped, must be noted.
In all cases the probable time of the death must be estimated.
The presence and nature of parasites must be recorded.
Wherever manslaughter or murder is suspected, the Coroner will order a necropsy as a matter of course.
Do not employ a hammer or a chisel.
If the mortuary attendant does the manual work you must watch each step.
If portions of organs are retained for subsequent examination, have the fact witnessed.
DRAWING UP A MEDICO-LEGAL REPORT.
In most cases the witness must recite the report in open court.
For a complete investigation three sets of facts must be collated:
The paragraphs should be numbered: this facilitates reference.
Names and figures must be written plainly, and underlined.
Exclude uncalled-for reasons, opinions, and comments.
For immediate comparison, quote easily recognized English standards.
In important cases the report should be type-written in duplicate and signed, one copy being handed to the Court.
The date and time of day of each examination, and the names of all persons present thereat, should be stated.
There must be a very sharp division made between:
"Never believe what a patient says another doctor said."
Never sign a certificate to oblige another practitioner, without personally examining the patient.
Retain an identical copy of the report for reference.
BEFORE BEING "SWORN."
All testimony given at this stage is null and void, and may render the speaker liable to an action for defamation. Do not omit to be "sworn" before speaking.
Should you wish to object to giving evidence on the grounds:
this is the stage at which you should say so.
There is now complete emancipation from "the insanitary oath." For the sake of public example you should decline to "kiss the Book" unless you have brought a Testament with you. Insist on your right either to affirm or to swear by the Scots method.
AFTER BEING "SWORN."
Whatever you say in giving evidence will not render you open to an action for slander.
Add to tbrJar First Page Next Page Prev Page