Commentary First Group of Parts – Discipline Part 7- Trial by Court Martial Section 172: Provision supplementary to sections 166 and 168
350.Subsection (1) defines “duly approved” as approved by the Secretary of State for the purposes of section 12 of the 1983 Act as having special experience in the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorder as defined within that Act.
351.Subsection (2) provides that, subject to subsection (4), a report written by a registered medical practitioner may be received in evidence without further proof of the signature or the professional qualifications of the author of the report. Subsection (4) specifies certain protections for the defendant where it is not the defence that has put the report in evidence, including a requirement to have such a report disclosed to him (or his representative, or parent or guardian), and a right to have the report’s signatory called to give evidence.
352.Subsection (3) provides that the court may call the author of such a report to court to give evidence.