Giving evidence in court

Any health professional working with children is likely, at some point in his or her career, to have to give evidence in court. It is a prospect that fills many with anxiety and dread. Standing in the witness box, being cross-examined by a barrister, it is easy to feel that it is you who are on trial, that your every action is being criticised, your motives questioned, and your integrity challenged. And yet, the courts are an essential part of safeguarding the welfare of our most vulnerable children and young people, and as health professionals we bring a unique and valuable contribution to the court processes. Giving evidence in court can be one of the most rewarding and challenging aspects of our work as child health professionals. Rewarding when we see positive outcomes as children are protected from harm and perpetrators of abuse are brought to justice, and challenging as our contribution forces us to take a critical look at our own practice, research evidence, and the context of the cases we are dealing with. This review will provide paediatricians and other child health professionals with an overview of court processes relating to children's welfare; to equip them with the knowledge and skills to prepare high quality legal reports, and to give evidence in court.