Public Inquiry Evidence

A Public Inquiry Evidence assessment provides the Chairman or Panel with objective clinical analysis regarding historical or systemic events. These reports often scrutinize clinical decision-making, risk management protocols, and the duty of care owed by public bodies to vulnerable individuals.

The assessment process adheres to the Inquiries Act 2005, focusing on the specific “terms of reference” set by the Minister. Experts must evaluate complex clinical records to determine whether actions taken by professionals were appropriate within the contemporaneous standard of care.

• Vulnerability assessment — evaluating the psychological impact of testifying on a witness
• Systemic analysis — identifying failures in institutional mental health policies
• Standard of care — determining if clinical actions met professional requirements at the time
• Causation and impact — linking institutional actions to psychological harm or outcomes
• Fitness to participate — assessing whether a witness can give evidence without significant mental distress
• Recommendations for change — providing clinical suggestions to prevent future recurrences of failure

Experts providing this evidence must possess high-level forensic expertise and an understanding of the non-adversarial nature of inquiries. They must remain strictly independent, assisting the inquiry in its fact-finding mission rather than acting for any particular “core participant.”

The resulting expert report serves as a crucial document for the inquiry’s final findings. It synthesizes voluminous evidence into a coherent clinical narrative that informs the inquiry’s recommendations for public safety and institutional reform.