Dr Owen Arthurs examines the lack of expert radiologists in child protection cases
- A national shortage of paediatric radiologists willing to engage in child abuse cases is compromising due process of law.
- Active measures needed to change the culture and provide the best highly skilled experts available in a controversial area.
Cases relating to suspected child abuse are among the most sensitive and difficult cases that medical and legal professionals are required to deal with.
It is imperative that all parties—the children and their families, and the accused—have equal access to justice and due process. That process requires independent high-quality expert testimony on the medical evidence underpinning the legal case. In particular, expert evidence is often required in the criminal and family courts from paediatric radiologists and neuroradiologists, a relatively small pool of highly skilled and specialist radiologists. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitably experienced professionals to fulfil this important role.
Difficulty finding experts
Unfortunately, and for multiple reasons, the UK is currently facing a shortage of radiologists in general (10% vacancy rate across UK; RCR 2018 workforce
