NCJ Number
44120
Journal
BULLETIN DE MEDECINE LEGALE, URGENCE MEDICALE, CENTRE ANTI-POISONS Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: (MARCH-APRIL 1977) Pages: 85-90
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
ASPECTS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND TRAINING OF MEDICAL EXPERTS IN FRANCE ARE DISCUSSED; EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON PROFESSIONALISM AND LICENSING OF THOSE AVAILABLE FOR DUTY AS EXPERT WITNESSES.
Abstract
AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF EXPERT TESTIMONIES IN CONNECTION WITH VIOLENT DEATHS, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, AND ESPECIALLY CRIMINAL RESEARCH PROMPTED THE CREATION OF AN INSTITUTE OF LEGAL MEDICINE WHICH PRESIDES OVER ALL MEDICOLEGAL AUTOPSIES OR RELATED FUNCTIONS. EXPERT EVIDENCE IN CIVIL CASES, HOWEVER, DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE AEGIS OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND MAY RELY ON ALL OF THE CLASSICAL MEDICAL TECHNIQUES. LISTS OF EXPERTS ARE MAINTAINED IN EACH LOCAL COURT OF APPEALS AND IN THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL; AS OF 1977, 2,000 MEDICAL EXPERTS WERE COUNTED IN FRANCE. EXPERTS IN MANY PARTS OF FRANCE HAVE FORMED COMPANIES INCORPORATING EXPERTS IN DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES; SOME OF THESE COMPANIES HAVE STARTED CENTERS OF TRAINING FOR EXPERTS WHICH ASSURE UNIFORM PROFESSIONALISM AND PROMOTE CERTIFICATION OF EXPERTS. EXPERTS IN FRANCE MUST POSSESS ONE OF THREE DIPLOMAS AVAILABLE AFTER SPECIALIZED UNIVERSITY TRAINING: A NATIONAL LEGAL MEDICINE CERTIFICATE; A DIPLOMA IN REPAIRING BODILY DAMAGE; OR A DIPLOMA IN MEDICOLEGAL PSYCHIATRY. THE FRENCH SOCIETY OF LEGAL MEDICINE AND CRIMINOLOGY AND THE ASSOCIATION OF FORENSIC MEDICAL EXPERTS HAVE MAJOR ROLES IN THE TRAINING AND ACTIVITIES OF MEDICAL EXPERTS. IT IS STRESSED THAT AN EXPERT MUST HAVE SUFFICIENT EXPERIENCE IN GIVING EXPERT TESTIMONY TO BE COMPETENT, BUT MUST NOT OVERDO THIS FUNCTION FOR FEAR OF DOING A DISSERVICE TO THE JUSTICE COMMUNITY BY TAKING ON MORE THAN ONE EXPERT CAN HANDLE. --IN FRENCH.