title: Family law matters - a guide for GPs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General practitioners are regularly called upon to assist their patients in family law disputes. They are often served with a subpoena to produce their patient's file, or that of their children, and can be called upon to provide short reports regarding various health conditions of their patients. Doctors can also sometimes become witnesses in family law litigation and the time needed to participate is rarely compensated. OBJECTIVE This article aims to provide GPs with key information in relation to responding to a subpoena and the preparation of reports in family law matters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Careful preparation of subpoenas and reports by GPs who find themselves embroiled in the family law disputes of their patients can save significant time and costs to all involved.
authors.affiliation: Hemming+Hart Lawyers, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. sarahm@hemhart.com.au
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minnery
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D030881:Disclosure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000379:methods; D005194:Family Practice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations