‘Fitness to Be Interviewed’ — A Proposed Definition and Scheme of Examination

Abstract

Police surgeons are frequently asked by the police to assess whether suspects held in police custody are fit to be interviewed. The lack of any clear medical and legal criteria by which fitness for interview can be assessed has left many doctors confused about what exactly the term means. This paper draws attention to the importance of the topic and suggests a working definition of‘fitness to be interviewed’. A scheme of examination is proposed which should enable the police surgeon to make a meaningful assessment of a suspect's fitness for interview.