title: Report writing and testimony.
abstract: Guidelines for providing competent and fair medicolegal reports and testimony are provided. Among them are (1) remaining within one's area of clinical competence when performing medicolegal work, (2) obtaining board certification from a legitimate specialty board, (3) considering the patients' claims and diagnoses from the opposing medicolegal viewpoint, and (4) Performing differential diagnosis in each case. Experts are asked to strive for honesty, fairness, thoroughness, and accuracy while avoiding the attempts at persuasion which sometimes are made by legal referral sources.
authors: Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Psychology Service, P.O. Box 1034, Portland, OR 97207, USA.
authors: L M
authors: LM
authors: Binder
authors: Occupational Health Program, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA.
authors: B T
authors: BT
authors: Burton
keywords: Competency; Medicolegal testimony; Report writing