Medical practitioner or dentist of suspect’s choice may be present for some forensic procedures
53 Medical practitioner or dentist of suspect’s choice may be present for some forensic procedures
A suspect is entitled to request a medical practitioner or dentist (the expert) of his or her choice, as shown in the Table to section 50, to be present while—
an intimate forensic procedure, or
a non-intimate forensic procedure that involves the taking of an impression or cast of a wound from a part of the suspect’s body,
is being carried out.
Note.
Section 99 provides that the request may be made by the suspect’s legal representative or interview friend.
The expert chosen is to be present at the forensic procedure unless he or she—
is unable, or does not wish, to attend, or
cannot be contacted,
within a reasonable time or, if relevant, within the time in which the person responsible for the effective carrying out of the forensic procedure considers the forensic procedure should be carried out if it is to be effective in affording evidence of the relevant offence.
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