Abstract

ROJAS BREEDY, Ana Lorena. About ethics in expert opinions and psychological and psychiatric reports in cases of suspicion of sexual abuse of a minor: to the highest bid?. Med. leg. Costa Rica [online]. 2006, vol.23, n.1, pp.5-15. ISSN 2215-5287.

This essay brings to attention the role of the expert witness and the private technical consultant in the fields of Psychological and Psychiatric Expertise, in which the expert witness can be a useful educator to the Tribune, giving a background of the existing body of knowledge of the nature of sexual abuse of a minor, common reactions of victims, patterns of revelation, the child’s memory and suggestibility, and they can help to objectively evaluate the credibility in particular cases. Nevertheless, very easily can the expert witness make his or her points of view match those of the part who has hired him or her. Therefore, the status of the expert becomes that of a witness whose purpose is victory of one of the parts, even at the expense of the consideration of all the scientific and professional data existent that could turn out into the process of revictimizing through the judicial system, which is why an ethical and social commitment is needed towards children and adolescents.

Keywords : Expert witness; technical consultant; Psychological and Psychiatric Expertise; educator; Tribune; body of knowledge; sexual abuse of a minor; patterns of revelation; suggestibility; credibility; revictimizing; childhood.

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