Manual of medical jurisprudence, toxicology and public health / by W.G. Aitchison Robertson.
- William George Aitchison Robertson
- Date:
- 1908
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Manual of medical jurisprudence, toxicology and public health / by W.G. Aitchison Robertson. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![way described. In another ease tlie reporter deduced that a brutal assault had been committed because a poker was found bent. In reality the poker had been bent in an endeavour to open a box some weeks previously. The report should be free from all such comments. If there are any articles which require description, state how they came into your possession. In conclusion it may be necessary to make deductions from the facts which have been narrated, but these are not always either necessary or desirable. Having carefully read the report over, it must be signed with name, (]ualifications, date, and address. A duplicate copy should always be kept before sending the report to the Ihiblic Prosecutor. It should be forwarded within two days. The defence may request a copy of this report, and their demand cannot be refused, but the prosecution alone has access to the precognition or deposition. When the medical man who has made such a report is placed in the witness-box, he then swears to the truth of the report which he has made. (b) Written Opinions. — These are usually confidential opinions given for the guidance of lawyers or counsel in civil cases. Such are of course private and are not read in ('ourt. Often a barrister or advocate rerpiires special information which can only be obtained from a medical or surgical expert, and hence he may ask for such a w'ritten opinion. It may also help him in framing (]uestions to j)ut to the witnesses. Adequate remuneration for such reports must of course be demanded, as they are chiefly used in civil cases. (c) Certificates.—The more formal certificates, which may be granted only by medical men whose names are on the Register, are really in effect sworn declarations. The certifier grants them on “soul and conscience,” and hence the obligation of granting such should not be undertaken lightly. The nature of the affection should be stated. Such certificates are given in the medical certification of lunatics; to exempt a man from serving on a jury or as a witness if he is ill, or in such a nervous condition that he could not give his proper attention to the trial. If an accused person be on bail, and unable to attend Court, he must trans- mit such a certificate. The medical man granting the certificate may be cited to](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28061755_0025.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
