Preliminary (pre-report) experts’ meetings Preliminary (pre-report) experts’ meetings

Preliminary (pre-report) experts’ meetings

Experts, in particular medical experts, are likely to be familiar with experts’ discussions that take place after the exchange of reports. This...
A Day in the Life of a Medicolegal Expert Witness A Day in the Life of a Medicolegal Expert Witness

A Day in the Life of a Medicolegal Expert Witness

Sue Lightman is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Consultant Ophthalmologist who has been undertaking medicolegal Expert Witness work for over 20...
Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd v Khan & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 531 Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd v Khan & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 531

Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd v Khan & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 531

This case is about whether the judge erred in finding that Ms Soophia Khan had capacity to defend proceedings for contempt of court. This is an...
Thomas Murray Joins EWI as a Corporate Partner Thomas Murray Joins EWI as a Corporate Partner

Thomas Murray Joins EWI as a Corporate Partner

We are pleased to welcome a new Corporate Partner
Pfizer Inc v Uniqure Biopharma BV [2024] EWHC 2672 (Pat) Pfizer Inc v Uniqure Biopharma BV [2024] EWHC 2672 (Pat)

Pfizer Inc v Uniqure Biopharma BV [2024] EWHC 2672 (Pat)

The judge in this patent case found that the claimants’ gene therapy expert had developed, quite possibly guided by lawyers, the understanding...
Celebrating Success at the Sir Michael Davies Lecture Celebrating Success at the Sir Michael Davies Lecture

Celebrating Success at the Sir Michael Davies Lecture

Successful Certification candidates receive their certificate from Lord Hodge.
Independence, bias and conflicts of interest Independence, bias and conflicts of interest

Independence, bias and conflicts of interest

Hon Mr Justice Trower provides invaluable guidance for Expert Witnesses at the 2024 the Sir Michael Davies lecture.
Podcast Episode 5: Range of Opinion Podcast Episode 5: Range of Opinion

Podcast Episode 5: Range of Opinion

Range of Opinion is the focus of the 5th episode of the Expert Matters Podcast. We catch up with Colin Holburn, Chair of the EWI Membership Committee,...
A Day in the Life of a Water Quality Expert A Day in the Life of a Water Quality Expert

A Day in the Life of a Water Quality Expert

Tim White is a chartered chemist who uses his expertise to assess chemical risk from exposure to water. He has been an Expert Witness for over 40...
Podcast Episode 4: Expert Fees Podcast Episode 4: Expert Fees

Podcast Episode 4: Expert Fees

Simon and Sean discuss expert fees and catch up with Dominic Woodhouse from Partners in Costs to talk about cost management and budgeting in civil...
A Day in the Life of a Fitted Kitchen and Bathroom Expert A Day in the Life of a Fitted Kitchen and Bathroom Expert

A Day in the Life of a Fitted Kitchen and Bathroom Expert

Jerry Ponder uses his 40+ years of experience in fitted interiors to provide expert evidence on the design, product quality, installation and project...
Podcast Episode 3: Single Joint Expert Podcast Episode 3: Single Joint Expert

Podcast Episode 3: Single Joint Expert

Simon and Sean discuss Single Joint Experts and catch up with two EWI members who act as Single Joint Experts to hear about their experiences, the...

Check out our Case Updates and Member Magazine

Looking for more news relevant to the Expert Witness community? Why not check out our database of cases relevant to Expert Evidence or the latest and previous editions of our member magazine, Expert Matters.

News

Clicking on one of the topics below will display news items relevant to that topic. You can also use the search bar below to identify news items.

Questions over use of ‘psychological experts’ in parental alienation cases
Simon Berney-Edwards 1750

Questions over use of ‘psychological experts’ in parental alienation cases

bySimon Berney-Edwards

A recent investigation by the Observer and reported by the Guardian is raising questions about the use of unregulated experts in the family courts being instructed to give an opinion on parental alienation cases.

 

In an interview with the Observer, Prof Mike Wang, chair of the Association of Clinical Psychologists UK board of directors, said:

 

“The organisation is aware of unregulated experts making findings of so-called parental alienation (PA) and doing tremendous harm. I’ve seen children taken away by the force of the state on the basis of PA. But what the public needs to know is that there is an international consensus that the evidence-base on parental alienation is not sufficiently robust to be making decisions about child-contact arrangements.”

 

Not all of those who call themselves “PA experts” or who are involved in parental alienation cases are unregulated.

 

But Professor Wang said:

 

“What I take issue with is a cohort of experts who I believe are making excessive claims about their qualifications while operating under vague or spurious titles which are not protected and could be misleading about the level or breadth of their experience.”

 

To register with the HCPC, psychologists must be qualified to hold one of nine designated titles protected by law, such as forensic psychologist or clinical psychologist.

 

“My view is the family courts should only appoint regulated experts,” said Professor Wang, who is campaigning for legislation to have the title psychologist protected.

 

Joint guidelines by the Family Justice Council and the British Psychological Society state the courts should “expect that all psychologists based in the UK providing evidence in the family proceedings are regulated by the HCPC and/or … have chartered membership with the BPS”.

 

Simon Berney-Edwards, EWI Chief Executive Officer, said: “We welcome the ACP-UK’s campaign. We speak to members of the public involved in Family Proceedings on a surprisingly regular basis who cannot understand why the expert does not appear to be a member of the HCPC or BPS. They are also confounded by the fact that experts do not have to be a member of the Expert Witness Institute. Members of the public should be able to expect that anyone giving evidence in a case that they are involved in has the right qualifications, is regulated by the appropriate body, and has received appropriate training in the duties of an expert witness. With directories such as our own Find an Expert Directory where experts need to demonstrate they possess all these, there should be no reason for instructing parties or the courts to risk appointing an expert without the necessary requirements.”

Share

Print
Comments are only visible to subscribers.