Being a psychologist who operates a private practice and being asked to act as an expert witness in courts and tribunals are two distinct scenarios, with the latter needing to be backed up by guidelines, according to a British expert witness and psychologist.

Maltese psychologists who act as expert witnesses in court and tribunals lack a code of good practice to help them deal with ethical dilemmas they are often faced with, Susan van Scoyoc explained.

“Psychologists are often required to act as witnesses in court and tribunals. This is a totally different scenario from being a psychologist operating your own private clinic.

“For one thing, the people you’re assessing are not coming to you because they want to. You may be faced with people who are unwilling to cooperate, terrified of being diagnosed as ‘mad’ and locked up. And this scenario changes what is being asked from a psychologist.”

Ms van Scoyoc was recently in Malta delivering a seminar on court expert witnessing and report writing to professionals from the Malta Union of Professional Psychologists, the Maltese Psychological Association and the University.

Her work often involves carrying out assessments and advising on sentencing for those accused of serious crimes. Last year she was awarded Practitioner of the Year 2012-13 by the British Psychological Society.

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