Wills Cheryl D
Case Western Reserve University, 5247 Wilson Mills Road, #452, Cleveland, OH 44143, USA.
J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2008;36(4):535-40.
Expert witnesses use various methods to render dispassionate opinions. Some forensic psychiatrists acknowledge bias up front; other experts use principles endorsed by the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law or other professional organizations. This article introduces CHESS, a systematic method for reducing bias in expert opinions. The CHESS method involves identifying a Claim or preliminary opinion; developing a Hierarchy of supporting evidence; examining the evidence for weaknesses or areas of Exposure; Studying and revising the claim and supporting evidence; and Synthesizing a revised opinion. Case examples illustrate how the CHESS method may help experts reduce bias while strengthening opinions. The method also helps experts prepare for court by reminding them to anticipate questions that may be asked during cross-examination. The CHESS method provides a framework for formulating, revising, and identifying limitations of opinions, which allows experts to incorporate neutrality into forensic opinions.
专家证人采用各种方法来给出公正的意见。一些法医精神病学家会预先承认偏见；其他专家则运用美国精神病学与法律学会或其他专业组织认可的原则。本文介绍了CHESS，一种减少专家意见中偏见的系统方法。CHESS方法包括确定一个主张或初步意见；建立支持证据的层次结构；检查证据中的弱点或暴露领域；研究并修订主张和支持证据；以及综合形成一个修订后的意见。案例示例说明了CHESS方法如何帮助专家减少偏见，同时强化意见。该方法还通过提醒专家预测交叉询问中可能被问到的问题，帮助他们为出庭做准备。CHESS方法为形成、修订和识别意见的局限性提供了一个框架，使专家能够将中立性纳入法医意见。
