10b - Medico-legal fees Northern Ireland
Fees for other medico-legal work
Following a ruling by the Office of Fair Trading, the BMA is no longer allowed to suggest fees for work that could be undertaken by any doctor. Amongst such activities is medico-legal work.
Practitioners may, however, find the guidance (Fees for part-time medical services ) that accompanies these fees schedules, along with fees elsewhere in this schedule, helpful in determining the fee which they wish to charge. In determining an appropriate fee, account should be taken of time spent in examinations, reading documents, consulting with solicitors and travelling time involved. It is important to negotiate and agree a fee with the requesting solicitor before undertaking the work. The model letter may be adapted as appropriate.
For expert witnesses there is a degree of flexibility in the amount which can be negotiated for payment, and this is normally at a higher rate than for a practitioner acting as a professional witness. In criminal matters, the assessment and payment of fees are generally made by the courts on completion of the case.