Rix's Expert Psychiatric Evidence is a resource manual and guide for psychiatrists who provide expert testimony. It covers the entire expert psychiatric witness journey, from training and negotiation of instructions, through medicolegal assessment, report preparation, experts' meetings and joint statements, and conferences with counsel, to giving evidence in court along with advice on keeping up to date. Introductory chapters include essential information on the law of expert evidence and the different procedures in the criminal, civil, family and coroners' courts. It now includes in depth information on all eight jurisdictions of the British Isles. It is richly illustrated with reported and unreported cases including many important ones from the previous ten years, particularly relating to vulnerable witnesses and defendants. The book is supplemented by a library of online letters, forms, a new format report template and other documents which can be downloaded and adapted by readers for their own use.

'Professor Rix has assembled an A-team of experts to guide novice and experienced practitioner alike through the perils and pitfalls of working as an expert witness. The reader benefits not just from the authors’ combined years of experience in psychiatric evaluation and courtroom practice but also from the wealth of historical detail used to illustrate dilemmas that ensnare the unwary. Those seeking to avoid a similar fate will have reason to be grateful.'

Alec Buchanan - Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine

'This erudite, comprehensive textbook is an essential acquisition to the library of anyone who gives expert evidence in the field of psychiatry in the United Kingdom. Experts in other fields will also find it useful for its general guidance on the duties of experts and their approach to the writing of reports and the giving of evidence. Whether you practise in the criminal, family or civil courts, this is a book to which you will turn time and again for the answers to questions that always arise in the life of any expert witness.'

Martin Spencer - High Court Judge and Chair of The Expert Witness Institute

'There is often confusion about the precise role of the medical expert witness and the different types of evidence that may be provided. This is clearly dealt with in this book (chapter 1). Professor Rix has a wonderful conversational style as seen in the chapter ‘Going to Court’. For many nowadays an infrequent experience, so this is essential reading. Having a clear resource outlining the legal systems within the British Isles will be useful for all witnesses (not just psychiatrists).'

Margaret M. Stark - President, Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians

‘… an extremely comprehensive, engaging and practical guide … Although written for psychiatrists, the many legal principles, procedures and general recommended approaches will no doubt transfer to other disciplines … immensely instructive. It will assist in finding an appropriate expert, asking the right questions and maximising the benefit of instructing an expert. It will also assist when perusing expert reports to identify areas of potential weakness that could be exploited. I was heartened by the suggested approach to the structure of reports to ensure that the reasoning for the expert’s conclusions are given due prominence. There is so much more to recommend in this book.’

Sue Swan - Associate Solicitor, Cartwright King Solicitors