Publications Disclaimer

The medico-legal guidelines published by the Faculty are for general information only. Appropriate specific advice should be sought from your medical defence organisation or professional association. The Faculty has one or more senior representatives of the MDOs on its Board, but for the avoidance of doubt, endorsement of the medico-legal guidelines published by the Faculty has not been sought from any of the medical defence organisations.

The guidance on this website represents the view of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine, which was arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. Heathcare professionals are expected to take it fully into account when exercising their clinical judgement. However, as with any guideline, recommendations may not be appropriate for use in all circumstances. Furthermore, it is recognised that a limitation of a guideline is that it simplifies decision making. This guidance does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer. Decisions to adopt any particular recommendation must be made in accordance with the relevant regulatory body. Good medical practice may take account of:

• available resources
• local services, policies and protocols
• available personnel
• the patient’s circumstances and wishes
• clinical experience of the practitioner
• knowledge of more recent research findings.

Last updated 22 February 2010