Preparing for a medico-legal psychiatric assessment

Before the appointment

Check the purpose of the appointment and the practical arrangements with the person who organised it. The aim of preparation is to help you understand the process and explain your experience in your own words.

• Confirm when and where to attend, what to have ready and whom to contact if you cannot attend.
• Ask how the report will be used and who can answer questions about your case.
• Raise communication or access needs in advance, including any difficulty finding a private space for a remote appointment.

Understand why the assessment has been arranged

Being asked to attend an assessment for a legal matter can feel unfamiliar. Start with the appointment information: who arranged it, what it is intended to address, and whom to contact with questions. If you have a solicitor, ask them to explain how the assessment relates to your case.

An independent expert assessment is arranged to inform particular questions. It does not automatically include treatment, prescribing or continuing appointments. If you also need help with your health, discuss that with your treating clinician rather than assuming the report appointment will provide ongoing care.

Ask how your information will be used

Before the assessment, ask who will receive the report, what information the assessor expects to consider and how the findings may be used. Relevant information from the discussion may form part of the report and may be shared in the proceedings.

Confidentiality duties still apply. The arrangements are not the same as a private conversation solely for treatment, and disclosure can depend on consent, legal requirements and the circumstances. Ask the assessor to explain the basis for using and sharing information; ask your legal adviser about disclosure in your case. Do not assume that you will receive a report first or have a right to approve its opinion.

Prepare notes that help you explain your experience

Your notes can be short. You might write down important dates, current practical difficulties and questions you want to ask. If you cannot remember a date or event clearly, say so. Distinguish what you remember from what someone else has told you, and avoid guessing to fill a gap.

Follow the specific appointment instructions about medicines information, identification or documents. Ask what is required rather than sending an entire personal record in advance. Use the sharing arrangements confirmed for the assessment; the initial website enquiry form is not a place for a medical history or case papers.

Discuss what would help you take part

Raise practical needs when the appointment is being arranged. This could include an interpreter, accessible premises, extra time to understand questions or a discussion about breaks. Ask whether a support person may attend and what their role would be; do not assume the same arrangements apply to every assessment.

Confirm whether the appointment is in person or remote, where it will take place and how much time to allow. For a remote appointment, check the joining instructions and choose a place where you can speak privately. If that is difficult, tell the organiser before the day.

• Who should I contact if the appointment details are unclear?
• What should I have ready, and what should I avoid sending in advance?
• How can I raise a communication need or ask for a break?
• Who will explain what happens after the assessment?

Know whom to contact afterwards

Ask how you will hear about the next steps. If you identify a factual error in information used for the report, raise it through the agreed contact route. A request to correct a date or name is different from a request to change an independent professional opinion.

For questions about the legal meaning of a report or its use in proceedings, speak to your legal adviser. For questions about your care, contact your treating service. Keeping these contacts clear can help you get the right answer without waiting for the wrong person.