The "Medical Expert Witness"

Abstract

To the Editor.— The recent, highly publicized Patty Hearst trial brought into focus the sad spectacle of physicians (this time, psychiatrists) taking an adversary position in courts of law. I believe, as do many of my colleagues, that it is high time organized medicine takes stand on this issue by supporting resolution that the expert medical witness (including the psychiatrist) testify only as a friend of the court. In the late 1940s, small group— Charles Aring, MD, Philip Piker, MD, and I—put through resolution in the Cincinnati Society of Neurology and Psychiatry that no member of the Society would testify in capital crime case except as a friend of the court. Although questions have been raised about the constitutionality of such position, to the best of my knowledge, this resolution is still in effect, and its constitutionality has not been challenged. Testifying as