Medicolegal work

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The Medico Legal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MLACP) is a professional network for Chartered Physiotherapists and others who have a special interest in medicolegal work.

An understanding of medicolegal matters is required in all areas of physiotherapy practice and at all stages of career progression. For example, a physiotherapist may be asked to give a report of your involvement with a patient in connection with legal action and other investigations which is called medicolegal work.

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Types of Expert Report

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There are many different types of report that an expert witness may be asked to produce. Each will have their own particular requirements and you must be clear what type of report you are being asked to write to ensure your report complies with the relevant rules.

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Clinical Negligence Reports

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These are independent reports which are used as evidence in cases of alleged clinical negligence. Experts can be instructed either by the claimant or the defendant (or their insurers) or in some cases a Single Joint Expert is appointed to act for both sides.

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Clinical negligence reports must meet the requirements of the current Civil Procedure Rules (Part 35). Physiotherapy expert evidence provided for the civil courts is tested to the civil standard of ‘on the balance of probabilities, more likely than not.’