Expert medical evidence is often essential and pivotal in support or defence of medical negligence. Such cases invariably involve questions of technical and factual complexity requiring the evaluation of conflicting expert medical testimony. In this book, the first standalone textbook on expert evidence in South Africa, the authors expound and extrapolate the whole process from the initial obtaining of the relevant health records to the eventual testimony of the medical expert witness in court. The authors offer an instructive guide to busy practitioners to assist them with - Identifying the correct expert speciality or sub-speciality, The construction of a medico-legal opinion, The status of joint minutes of such experts, The preparation of an expert's examination-in-chief, Cross- and re-examination of an expert. Expert evidence in clinical negligence also discusses the invaluable role of experts in the resolution of medical malpractice disputes by way of mediation. Relevant case law and the applicable uniform rules of court are comprehensively discussed and set out in the footnotes for ease of reference.

This book provides healthcare and legal practitioners and students at all levels with the theory and practical application necessary to understand and apply bioethics, human rights and health law to their present and future work. The topics of bioethics, human rights and health law are part of the core curriculum for all students in Health Sciences in South Africa. Bioethics, Health Law and Human Rights: Principles and Practice, therefore, comes at no better time.

As the book is a guide, it does not deal exhaustively with the topics discussed. Instead, it aims to give healthcare and legal practitioners some general guidelines which it is hoped will be of practical use to them.