Forensic psychiatrist uncovers the truth behind false allegations

A paper entitled "Expert Evidence Standards, & Disordered Therapists" was recently presented at a plenary session of the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences in Sydney.

The author, Dr Lucire has 35 years experience as a forensic psychiatrist plus a doctorate in medical anthropology within the framework of the History and Philosophy of Science.

She sees the Recovered (or False) Memory phenomenon, commonly associated with false accusations of child sexual abuse, as part of a wider dysfunction of a counselling industry whose practitioners lack clinical training, and worse, are sometimes mentally disordered themselves.

As is already happening in the Supreme Court of the USA, the paper presages a turning point in Australian courts relating to standards of scientific rigour to be expected of expert witnesses.

Present at the meeting were many judges, medicos, the NSW Governor, the Commonwealth Solicitor General, the NSW DPP, the President of the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatry, journalists, and various lawyers. It was received with near unanimous acclaim. Only the NSW DPP remained unmoved.

Dr Lucire calls for pre-trial psychiatric assessment of certain types of witnesses and accusers in cases involving accusations of sexual abuse. She also calls for counsellors' records to be made available to courts.

Until the paper is published in the journal of the Academy, later this year we will respect Dr Lucire's request that the paper NOT be put on any website. However, we can make available a copy of the paper for those who need to use it for reference in a case.

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