ABSTRACT
In the search for solutions to problems, peer review committees, interdisciplinary reviewers, medical society ethics and disciplinary and bar review committees have each been presented as the answer sine qua non. This chapter describes the practice of medicine to the premedical curriculum. One's client bears the standard assumption of "truth," be it in civil or criminal law, and it is incumbent on society to demonstrate the contrary. The chapter discusses confidentiality, conspiracy of silence, discipline, availability, specialization and qualifications, informed consent, and fees, as well as the expert witness, the reader should not infer that this encompasses the entire area of ethics. The ethical concept of the expert witness has been challenged repeatedly. Nowhere has this concept been abused more than in litigation in the field of psychiatry. The legal system relies to a great extent on the expert witness in matters of an "esoteric" nature.
