The Coroner’s Court differs from other tribunals in that, primarily, it conducts an enquiry to which there are no formal parties. The evidence received by this Court is on that account much less bound by technical rules.
Classes of Medical Evidence and Witnesses.
The evidence of
I. Common witnesses of Facts which they have observed. They state the minor premiss of the forensic argument. Those who can describe technical matters which they have seen are skilled common witnesses: medical men usually appear in court as skilled witnesses. Job’s “I shall see for myself, and my own eyes shall behold, and not another,” indicates the correct attitude of a common witness of fact.
The testimony of
II. Expert witnesses concerning their Opinions. They state the major premiss of the syllogism, whose conclusion is found in the verdict of the jury. All expert witnesses should be skilled witnesses. Experts sometimes become common witnesses when examined as to exhibits produced in court. The weakness of expert testimony is, in practice, its ex parte nature. Medical men called to give evidence as to fact, must beware of being unconsciously drawn into offering expert testimony.
I. PREPARING AND GIVING EVIDENCE.
A. BEFORE ENTERING COURT.
Notify directly to the Coroner all deaths, the certificate of the cause of which you are unable to sign (persons found dead—whose death was caused or hastened by accident or injury—who have died without recent medical attendance—who, although attended by a registered medical practitioner during the last illness, have died in such a manner or at such a time, that the medical man is unable to assign a cause of natural death, or for some good reason declines to certify the cause).