The documentation of torture is a specialist area of medicine which requires consideration of both physical and psychological consequences of gross human rights abuses. It is not taught in medical schools and is an area of expertise confined to a relatively small number of clinicians. Neither forensic medicine nor documentation of torture are recognised as specialities by the General Medical Council. The GMC has not created a specialist register for this area of work, nor has it any plans to do so.
There is, therefore, no explicit guidance for the courts as to the criteria for qualification as expert in the evaluation of this kind of clinical evidence. In the case of Pool v the GMC, the High Court held that, in the absence of formally recognised certification pathways, expertise can only be demonstrated by reference to training, experience and research. All Forrest MLS clinicians members satisfy those criteria, by means of:
Training in a relevant clinical specialty which deals with physical and/or psychological trauma (especially psychiatry, psychology, general practice, surgery, accident and emergency medicine), in forensic documentation (from a qualified source), by apprenticeship, training, support and peer review both within Forrest and external colleagues
Experience of relevant practice of providing medico-legal reports for the courts
Research in biomedical or psychological consequences of human rights abuses and injury including attendance and presentation at conferences and in scientific journals
When recommending any of our members, we work hard to match their particular skills, availability, location, and gender to the needs of the client. Our members’ qualifications are set out in short CVs for the court and are available via info@forrestmls.org for submissions to the Legal Aid Agency.
Please head emails “Request for CV”, stating whether the primary matters of concern are physical, psychological or combined, with the proviso that the Istanbul Protocol requires consideration of both physical and psychological aspects of the consequences of human rights abuses. In the event that the particular area of expertise required is not apparent, we will do our best to match the appropriate expert to the instructions provided. The more detailed the instructions, the better the match.
Directors
Dr. Frank Arnold — Medical Director
Dr Kit Byatt — Education Director
David Rhys Jones — Legal Director
Administrative Staff
Ms Kareema Burney — Practice Manager
Ms Tamara Dudziak — Assistant Practice Manager
Ms Sarah Talbot — Consultant
Medical Experts:
Prof. Mohammed Abou-Saleh (psychiatrist)
Dr Syira Ahsan
Dr Israh al-Taei
Dr Francesca Brady (psychologist)
Dr Mary Anderson
Dr Miriam Beeks
Dr Alison Callaway
Dr Max Cooper
Ms Josephine Dale (psychologist; trafficking expert)
Dr Deena El-Shirbiny
Dr Fionnula Finnerty
Dr Charmian Goldwyn
Dr Val Hawes (psychiatrist)
Dr Bernadette de Jager
Dr Tania Longman
Dr Leah McAleer
Dr Tayyibah Munir
Dr Alick Munro
Dr Wendy Phillips
Dr Heather Sharma
Dr John Shenouda
Dr Ritesh Sinha
Dr Phyllis Turvill
Dr Kate Wrigley
Senior Associates
Associate members do not currently undertake medico-legal reports via Forrest MLS, but can mentor and support Forrest members and collaborate on generic work where pooled expertise is required.
Professor Cornelius Katona
Dr Juliet Cohen