An Australian psychologist has been banned from acting as an expert witness and fined AUS$20,000 because of conduct in a family law case. He attributed traits of psychopathy to the father of a child without sufficient sufficient data or clinical evidence, and suggested that the child needed protection from the father.
It was found that the psychologist had breached his professional code of ethics.
Following mediation, on the application of the Psychology Board of Australia, the State Administrative Tribunal (Western Australia) ordered the psychologist to pay a fine to the Board, and banned him from acting as an expert witness. The ban was reviewable after 12 months.
For further information on this case, see: https://ecourts.justice.wa.gov.au/eCourtsPortal/Decisions/ViewDecision?returnUrl=%2feCourtsPortal%2fDecisions%2fFilter%2fSAT%2fRecentDecisions&id=5d97f1d9-66d3-4009-9f61-cb45a1e2abb9