Issue guidelines on duties, responsibilities of govt. doctors acting as witnesses: HC
The Madras High Court has ordered health officials to issue comprehensive guidelines for government doctors acting as expert witnesses in court. The court emphasized that medical professionals have a statutory duty to provide accurate, legible, and objective testimony to ensure judicial fairness.
Why it matters
It clarifies the professional and legal obligations of medical experts, aiming to reduce judicial delays caused by inconsistent or poorly documented medical evidence.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Health Secretary and the Director of Medical Education and Research to issue a circular/ guidelines comprehensively dealing with duties and responsibilities of government medical professionals while acting as expert witnesses before courts.
Justice B. Pugalendhi said an expert witness occupied a position of trust. The privilege of assisting the court carried with it a corresponding responsibility to provide objective, accurate and consistent testimony. Even an inadvertent lapse by the medical expert while testifying created confusion, prolonged judicial proceedings and affected the rights of either the victim or the accused.
Therefore, the medical professionals appearing before courts as expert witnesses must exercise a high degree of care while giving evidence. Equally important was the duty to carefully read and verify the deposition before affixing their signature, the court said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in