Sir, Mr Stanley Best’s comments (letter, June 9) on wrongful convictions are valid, but as far as medical issues are concerned, the risks could be reduced. For several decades many of us who work at the sharp end of the medico-legal interface have been highlighting deficiencies in attitudes to, and in the teaching of, clinical forensic medicine, which is the relevant umbrella discipline.
Society has repeatedly demonstrated the need for informed, unbiased opinions to assist the criminal courts in medical matters. This defines the requirement for an academic base for co-ordinated research, evidence-based teaching, ethical guidance and assistance with accreditation. Since 1988 unsuccessful attempts have been made to establish such a base under the aegis of a royal medical college or a university, but as clinical forensic medicine is grossly undervalued and not even categorised as a sub-speciality, let alone as a speciality, such a project has no home.
It is not only the academics in medicine who are to blame, for nor have their counterparts in the law been particularly helpful. It is high time the Home Office intervened with encouragement and active support for those of us in our two noble professions who are ready, willing and, hopefully, able to remove this blot on our criminal justice system.
Yours faithfully,
NEVILLE DAVIS,
(Consultant Occupational and Forensic Physician),
Redroof, Windmill Lane,
Arkley, Hertfordshire EN5 3HX.
June 10.