Family law matters - a guide for GPs
Minnery, S.
Australian Family Physician 40(12): 1009-1010
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-8495 PMID: 22146333 Document Number: 655914
General practitioners are regularly called upon to assist their patients in family law disputes. They are often served with a subpoena to produce their patient's file, or that of their children, and can be called upon to provide short reports regarding various health conditions of their patients. Doctors can also sometimes become witnesses in family law litigation and the time needed to participate is rarely compensated. OBJECTIVE This article aims to provide GPs with key information in relation to responding to a subpoena and the preparation of reports in family law matters. Careful preparation of subpoenas and reports by GPs who find themselves embroiled in the family law disputes of their patients can save significant time and costs to all involved.