Dr Waquas Waheed joined Foresight in 2018 as a Psychiatry Expert Witness. Backed by 30 years’ experience in Psychiatry, Dr Waheed is an incredible asset to our Expert Panel. As a valued member of our panel, we’re taking an inside look at what an average day looks like for him.

Can you tell us a little about the work you do with Foresight?

Working with Foresight, the majority of my work is related to criminal matters. Lately, I have also received instructions in family matters. Because of my interest in ethnicity and mental health, I get many instructions for clients from non-English speaking backgrounds. I also do a lot of work for Foresight when there is some disagreement over diagnosis or matters related to a person’s immigration status.

How does your morning usually unfold?

Sometimes I work late nights, sometimes I work early mornings, so the time I get up varies every day. As I’m a clinical academic, I split my working time between the hospital and university base.

The first thing I do when I get to work is check my emails and diary, before setting myself tasks for the day. I usually stick to these tasks, unless there is some immediate action needed.

As I use a combination of apps that are linked to my email and database, I’m able to easily track my work throughout the day. I’m always looking for ways to improve the work I do, so over the years, I have developed templates for expert reports, constantly improving them when I come across examples from other reports.

What do you do for the rest of the day?

As I get a few days off from my clinical work each month, I try to complete several assessments in a single day, starting in the afternoon.

In the evening, I usually go through my expert witness-related emails to ensure I’ve responded to all of them. I will then read the evidence documents and make notes if I have a client booked in for the next day.

I try to leave work by 5pm. When I get home, I unwind with a large mug of coffee while listening to classical and Sufi music and socialise online with my many friends who live across the globe.

Would you recommend being an expert witness for Foresight?

Certainly! It brings another dimension to your work. On a personal level, working as an expert witness keeps my diagnostic skills fine-tuned and I feel proud when my contribution helps in facilitating the legal process.

Interested in joining our Expert Panel? Click here to learn more.