DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIRST CLINICAL FORENSIC MEDICINE TRAINING PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 145754
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1993) Pages: 835-839
• Author(s): W S Smock; G R Nichols; P M Fuller
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Presented at the meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, 1992, New Orleans

Annotation

The Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office and the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Louisville are currently training physicians to conduct forensic evaluations.

Abstract

The training program, established in 1991 to address the forensic needs of victims who survive violent crimes and trauma, is designed to help physicians evaluate adult and pediatric victims of blunt and penetrating trauma, sexual abuse, and physical abuse and to teach them how to collect evidentiary material when indicated. As part of the teaching process, forensic examinations are performed with the consent of the patient. The examinations include a history and physical, photographs, and anatomical diagrams. The training program also provides a physician for examining suspects involved in physical and sexual assault cases, and it includes monthly forensic lectures for emergency medicine residents. During the first 7 months of the program from July 1, 1991, to January 31, 1992, 75 official forensic consultations were requested. The authors note that the development of a clinical forensic medicine training program and fellowship at the resident physician level is internationally unique. 7 references and 3 tables