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Medical examiner variability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

R. Hinchcliffe
R. Hinchcliffe*
Affiliation:
Division of Audiological Medicine, Institute of Laryngology and Otology, University College London Medical School. London, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: R. Hinchcliffe, Division of Audiological Medicine, Institute of Laryngology and Otology, University College London Medical School, London WC1X 8EE.
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Abstract

There are undoubtedly many factors that contribute to inter-examiner variability relevant to the use of medical practitioners in justiciable matters. One source of variability with regard to claims relating to hearing disorders could well be the training and ‘calibration’ of medical examiners. A tentative analysis of the examination papers and of the declared roles of the specialties that provide these examiners lends support to such a thesis. One solution would be to train special specialists for medicolegal work, as envisaged by Boyarsky for forensic urology (Boyarsky, 1996). At the same time there is the need to change the role-perception of many examiners. There is also the need for medical examiners to express honest, unbiased opinions. There are also problems inherent in the litigation process which does not promote the interactive and adaptive processes between experts that characterise scientific discussions and enquiry.

Keywords

JurisprudenceObserver variationEducationHearing lossnoise-induced
Type
Review Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 111 , Issue 1 , January 1997 , pp. 8 - 14
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1997

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Footnotes

A review based upon a paper presented at the 11th World Congress of Medical Law, Sun City, Northwest Province, South Africa. 28 July–1 August, 1996.

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