In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
If this helps, I show here what I have in my procedures book. So far, in 5
years, not a single SHO has had to attend Court (touches wood)
POLICE STATEMENTS
Many of the injuries with which we deal become the subject of litigation.
You will be asked to provide a statement on patients with whom you have
dealt. There is a format to these statements to which you must adhere to
avoid compromising yourself, your evidence or any of the participants.
Above all, your statement must be honest, complete and consistent. You
are, however, not trying to justify yourself and what you did: your
statement is an impartial description of that person's care.
It must include 4 things:
1. Who you are
2. Why you are able to make the statement
3. What you found on the person you treated
4. How you treated it
and that is all.
Note that there is no reference to the history you obtained. This is
hearsay, and therefore may not be admissible in Court. Do not enter the
patient's address. Your full statement will be read out in Court (and
indeed, if questions are raised by your statement then you will be called
for cross-questioning; another good reason to ensure your statement is
completed correctly!) and there are obvious reasons why the patient's
address should not be divulged. As it will be read out to a lay jury, who
will not understand neuropraxia, laceration, haematoma and such, keep your
language simple and concise. However, if you need to name a structure to
identify it precisely, do so.
You can only provide any information on any adult with that person's
written consent, and you can only provide information on a child with the
parent or guardian's consent. You are also paid a fee (currently £26.40)
for each statement you make. Pass your statement to the Unit Secretariat
within 7 days of receipt, but not until you have seen the consent and
signed the payment form. Photocopies or faxes of signatures are not
acceptable, and neither is a promise that it is "back at the station".
A simple example; a man who was slashed with a Stanley knife on his left
forearm: ***************************
Witness Statement
Statement of John Alan Smith
Age if under 21 Over 21
This statement (consisting of 1 pages each signed by me) is true to the
best of my knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that, if it is
tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I have wilfully
stated in it anything which I know to be false or do not believe to be
true.
Dated the 2nd day of March 2000
Signature J A Smith
I am a fully registered medical practitioner, and I was employed as Senior
House Officer in the Accident & Emergency Unit of Eastbourne District
Hospital on February 9th 2000.I make this statement from my own
contemporaneous notes. I was on duty at 17:25 hours on February 9th 2000
when I was asked to examine Peter Hampden.
On examination I found a cut 4cm long by 0.5 cm wide on the left forearm
about 2 cm from the wrist. It had clean edges and muscle and tendon was
visible in the wound. Mr Hampden could not lift his thumb up and had a
numb patch over the back of his hand. I diagnosed that he had cut the
tendon of the extensor pollicis muscle and a branch of the radial nerve. I
explored the wound under anaesthetic and found that the tendon was indeed
cut and stitched the two ends together. I found that the nerve had not
been completely cut, and did not need repair. I stitched the skin cut with
15 stitches, and rested the arm in a plaster cast and a sling. I gave him
some amoxycillin as an antibiotic and some codydramol as a painkiller and
asked him to come back the next day for a check-up. J A Smith.
**************************Note that the document is signed at the end as
well as the beginning; also sign at the bottom and get someone else to
countersign it. No spaces have been left between paragraphs. Fill in only
your name and the address and 'phone number of the Unit on the back; do
not give your home address, and you most certainly do not fill in the
identifying details of maiden name, height etc. Block out any known
holidays or other periods of absence over the next 3 months. Show me the
first few for me to check.
Note that the Police occasionally supply a template; this is not to be
used.
Best wishes,
Rowley Cottingham
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