NCJ Number
100510
Date Published
1984
Length
232 pages
Annotation
This text for undergraduate college students presents basic principles in the medicolegal aspects of medical practice, forensic pathology, and toxicology, with particular attention to aspects of forensic medicine in Great Britain.
Abstract
Chapters on the medicolegal aspects of medical practice focus on Britain's medical profession, the work of the General Medical Council, and specific medicolegal issues such as death certification, the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, privileged communications, drunkenness, and sexual offenses. Chapters on forensic pathology describe steps in identifying cause of death and analyzing various types of evidence, including blood, wounds, firearms, and physical evidence. The identification of deaths by asphyxia, drowning, starvation and neglect, criminal abortion, and infanticide are discussed. Victim identification is also discussed. Chapters on toxicology encompass general diagnosis and treatment in poisonings and focus on common suicidal poisons, household poisons, industrial poisons, uncommon poisons, and drug addiction. Illustrations and a subject index.