Goldstein R L
Practice of Psychiatry Program, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY.
Bull Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 1988;16(3):225-34.
Attacks on the credibility of the psychiatric expert witness are termed impeachment. This article provides an in-depth review of the various impeachment techniques used by lawyers during cross-examination and offers specific suggestions to the psychiatric expert witness on how to prepare for and counter some of these trial ploys. Bolstering and rehabilitation of the expert's credibility are also discussed. Finally, improper use of impeachment tactics is also considered. Excerpts from trial transcripts and court opinions are supplied to illustrate these points. Although impeachment remains a formidable weapon in the lawyer's armamentarium, it is suggested that the well-prepared and experienced psychiatric expert witness will be more than equal to the task.
对精神病学专家证人可信度的攻击被称为弹劾。本文深入回顾了律师在交叉询问时使用的各种弹劾技巧，并就精神病学专家证人如何准备和应对其中一些庭审策略提供了具体建议。还讨论了增强和恢复专家证人的可信度。最后，也考虑了弹劾策略的不当使用。文中提供了庭审记录和法庭意见的摘录来说明这些要点。尽管弹劾仍是律师武器库中的一项强大武器，但有人认为，准备充分且经验丰富的精神病学专家证人将足以胜任这项任务。
