Causation, Condition & Prognosis
Expert Witness Reports
Our chambers prepares combined causation and prognosis reports that address psychiatric injury, material contribution, and expected recovery trajectory in a single CPR Part 35-compliant document.
The single report for
causation and prognosis.
Our chambers prepares combined causation and prognosis reports that integrate psychiatric causation analysis with condition prognosis assessment in one CPR Part 35-compliant document.
These reports address both the material contribution of the index event to the claimant’s psychiatric injury and the expected future course of the condition, enabling solicitors to present a unified quantum case under the Civil Procedure Rules.
Three stages where
this report is critical.
Pre-action protocol
Our chambers accepts instructions for combined causation and prognosis reports at the pre-action stage to support the Letter of Claim, establishing both the psychiatric injury and its causal link to the index event under CPR Part 35.
Schedule of loss
The report provides the evidential foundation for the Schedule of Loss, addressing both general damages and future losses based on the expected trajectory of the claimant’s psychiatric condition.
Joint expert meetings
Our experts prepare for joint discussions under CPR 35.12, ensuring the combined report withstands scrutiny on both causation and prognosis during the joint statement process.
What a combined report
contains, section by section.
Expert declaration
CPR Part 35 compliance statement, GMC Specialist Register or HCPC registration details, and confirmation of the expert’s overriding duty to the court under CPR 35.3.
Pre-morbid baseline
Psychiatric, social, and occupational history before the index event, establishing the claimant’s pre-injury mental health status for causation analysis.
Index event account
The claimant’s account of the index event, recorded verbatim, with clinical observations on consistency and relevance to the psychiatric injury.
Mental state examination
Clinical findings from the assessment, including standardised instruments under DSM-5-TR or ICD-11, and the diagnostic formulation linking the index event to the condition.
Causation opinion
Reasoned opinion on material contribution, addressing alternative stressors and apportionment where clinically justified, in compliance with Bolam and Bolitho.
Treatment and prognosis
Current treatment, recommended future interventions, and the expected trajectory of the psychiatric condition with and without further treatment, informing quantum.
Statement of truth
Signed declaration of compliance with CPR Part 35 and Practice Direction 35, confirming the report’s independence and impartiality.
How the assessment
is conducted.
Our experts follow a transparent methodology that documents each step from instruction to opinion, ensuring the combined causation and prognosis report withstands Part 35 questions and cross-examination.
-
01
Records review
Full review of GP, psychiatric, and occupational health records, with material entries identified expressly in the report to support causation and prognosis reasoning.
-
02
Clinical interview
Structured trauma-informed interview, typically 3–4 hours, with breaks tailored to the claimant’s presentation and wellbeing.
-
03
Standardised instruments
Administration of PCL-5, IES-R, or other validated measures where clinically indicated, with rationale documented for inclusion in the report.
-
04
Formulation
Clinical formulation linking the index event, pre-morbid baseline, and current presentation, leading to the reasoned opinion on causation and prognosis.
-
05
Draft and review
Draft report prepared and reviewed for compliance with CPR Part 35, Practice Direction 35, and the Civil Justice Council 2014 Guidance before finalisation.
Every claim requiring
causation and prognosis.
Our chambers accepts instructions for combined causation and prognosis reports across personal injury, clinical negligence, and employment-related psychiatric injury claims.
Questions from
solicitors we work with.
Can a single report address both psychiatric causation and condition prognosis?
Yes. Our chambers prepares combined causation and prognosis reports that integrate both elements in one CPR Part 35-compliant document, addressing material contribution and expected recovery trajectory.
How do your experts handle Part 35 questions on causation?
Transparently. Our experts respond to Part 35 questions under CPR 35.6, addressing causation reasoning expressly and seeking solicitor advice where questions risk crossing into impermissible territory.
Are remote assessments acceptable for combined reports?
Yes. Secure video assessments are accepted where clinically appropriate, though in-person assessment is recommended for complex trauma or capacity issues.
What is the turnaround for a combined causation and prognosis report?
6–8 weeks. From receipt of full records, our experts typically offer assessment within four weeks and deliver the report within two weeks of assessment.
Do your experts attend joint expert meetings?
Yes. Attendance at joint expert discussions under CPR 35.12 and preparation of the joint statement are included in the standard instruction scope.
Can the report be updated if new evidence emerges?
Yes. Addendum reports are prepared where new records or clinical developments require an update to the causation or prognosis opinion, quoted separately at instruction.
Need a combined causation &
prognosis expert for your case?
Send a brief case summary — claimant details, index event, procedural stage, and any court deadlines — and our chambers will confirm expert availability and timescales within one working day.