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Muzzling scientific debate will lead to false convictions, warns expert witness

BMJ 2011; 342 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d510 (Published 26 January 2011) Cite this as: BMJ 2011;342:d510
  1. Clare Dyer
  1. 1BMJ

Expert witnesses who challenge mainstream opinion face possible investigation for professional misconduct, with “profound professional and personal consequences,” a leading expert on shaken baby cases says.

Waney Squier, a consultant neuropathologist at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, reveals in the January issue of Clinical Risk (2011;17:3-5, doi:10.1258/cr.2010.100002) that police filed a complaint with the General Medical Council about her and a fellow expert witness, Marta Cohen, after a High Court judge accused them of having “developed a scientific prejudice.”

Dr Squier writes, “According to a public lecture, given by a representative of the police, the impetus for this complaint was …

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