Thursday 13 June 2013

Emedinews:Insights on Medicolegal Issues:Legal medicine: Doctor in witness box under oath


When a doctor is called in witness box of Court of Law, Oath has to be administered before he tenders his evidence.

A doctor as witness while administered the oath has to repeat, while standing… ‘the evidences which I shall give to the honorable court shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me the almighty God".

If a Doctor wishes to give his evidence on solemn affirmation, he has to say that I solemnly affirm that the evidences which I shall give to the honorable court shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

The main objective of the oath is to find truthful statement and if any doctor/witness speaks a lie after administration of oath he is liable for punishment of perjury a criminal offence in our country as well as abroad.

The Medical opinion of the doctor must be supported by reason/science and it is the reasons and not ipse dixit (meaning he himself said (it)) which is of importance in assessing the merit of the doctor’s opinion in the court of law.

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