Occupational Therapists in the Witness Box — How will we be Judged?

Abstract

This article looks at a range of issues relating to the author’s own personal experience in a medicolegal occupational therapy private practice. The therapist discusses the nature and range of Medico-legal assessments provided, using case studies for illustration. Each brief case study includes the reason for referral, the types of assessments conducted, the legal questions and issues raised when the matter proceeded to a court hearing, and the outcome. The author describes a range of ethical dilemmas experienced when performing medico-legal assessments, discusses how she dealt with them, and poses questions for the consideration of the reader.

Key words:

• Occupational therapy
• Medico-legal assessment
• Expert witness
• Ethical dilemmas