What Price Justice? Experts or Treating Clinicians

In June [2012] Fam Law 659 we, who acted for the mother in LB Islington v Al Alas and Wray [2012] EWHC 865 (Fam), [2012] 2 FLR (forthcoming) provided an analysis of that important case and highlighted some of the issues arising from the judgment of Theis J and the evidence that had informed it in the preceding 6 week trial. In cases like Al Alas there is a small pool of available experts. The science on which their opinions depend is complex and sometimes controversial. The acceptance or rejection of those opinions by the court has a pivotal effect on the outcome for the family at the heart of the case. This second article considers a number of issues about the proper reliance on xperts and the effective use of them in such cases.

Authors

• Jo Delahunty KC