Thank you for the correction! The fields are simular in that they deal with the brain and the nervous system. Neuropsychological seems to center around a brain's illness or injury affecting the body's neurology while neurophysiology is how the condition of the nervous system itself affects the brain's functioning. Pretty closely related and mostly likely borrowing from the other in many diagnosing.
If RA's calling a neuropsychologist to testify as to his condition, does that mean he's being diagnosed as having brain illness or damage...so he's incompetent? Do you think that's what is going to be put forth? It's quite late in the game discovery isn't it. And the exam is very recent.
Here's the explanation for why the exam was just filed, It appears the judge got the ball rolling and then denied any further funding.
This is from the Motion for Parity:
(snip)
Since being reinstated in this case, the State of Indiana
has served up additional discovery to the Defense in the form of multiple interviews
conducted by law enforcement with Westville prisoners and correctional officers. In
these interviews, law enforcement investigators have inquired about the
interviewees’ opinions regarding Defendant Allen’s state of mental health,
practically seeking clinical diagnostic opinions from these lay witnesses. Defense
counsel retained a clinical psychologist to evaluate Allen and review health records
and video relevant to Allen’s confinement conditions.
This Court previously
authorized funds for the defense to retain the expert. However, those funds are now
depleted, and additional services are still needed.
This Court authorized payment for the two-hour visit defense counsel had
scheduled with the expert but denied the request for additional funding, finding
that the
“unsupported request is denied as an unreasonable expenditure of county
funds.”
Defense counsel also
requested funding to hire a confession expert to educate
counsel and possibly the jury on the impacts solitary confinement has on
individuals accused of crimes, particularly in relation to the voluntariness of a
confession made in those conditions. Through the process of conducting discovery,
Defense counsel has learned that Defendant Allen’s pre-trial detention in the
segregation unit at Westville, may be the first time an innocent man has been
confined in such a setting in the history of the institution and possibly this State.
Moreover, Allen’s detention is the direct result of the Carroll County Sheriff’s
request for a safekeeping order. He, the requesting Sheriff, created this
circumstance. It is indisputable that the issue of the impact of Allen’s unique and
unprecedented pre-trial detention circumstances on his overall mental health is
germane to his defense.
Despite this, the Court declined defense counsel’s request
for additional funding as being “unsupported.”
17. Defense counsel made other requests for funding as well. Counsel
requested funding for the services of an independent forensic pathologist to review
and consult with the defense on issues related to the crime scene, the pathology of
the victims, and the cause, manner, and timing of death.
This Court declined the
request as being “unsupported.”
drive.google.com
Here's some info on Dr. Westcott. I'm assuming this is the right one.
Personal Bio
Dr. Polly Westcott has been practicing in Indiana since 2004. She is a clinical psychologist with post-doctoral training in neuropsychology and forensics. She works with children, adults, and families from a cognitive behavioral therapeutic perspective, including using biofeedback to treat mood disorders, adjusting to life transitions, posttraumatic stress, and various medical conditions. Employing her neuropsychology background, she conducts neuropsychological assessments and works to help caregivers, families, and patients with brain-based disorders cope and strategize to improve their functioning. She is a nationally known legal consultant for criminal and civil cases involving brain-based and psychological disorders.
www.indianahealthgroup.com
