NCJ Number
68931
Date Published
1980
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE FIELD OF LEGAL MEDICINE IS EXPLORED IN THIS CHAPTER FROM 'INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC SCIENCES'; INVESTIGATIVE SYSTEMS, MEDICOLEGAL ISSUES, FORENSIC EXPERTS, AND EDUCATION ARE EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
LEGAL MEDICINE IS THAT SCIENTIFIC AREA WHEREIN THE LAW AND MEDICAL SCIENCE INTERFACE. DEGREES IN BOTH LAW AND MEDICINE ARE REQUIRED FOR PRACTICE. SUCH TRAINING HAS BEEN NECESSITATED BY THE COMPLEXITIES OF TODAY'S MEDICOLEGAL INVESTIGATIONS. THUS, ALTHOUGH FULLY 50 PERCENT OF THE ELECTED CORONERS IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE NO SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND, THE PICTURE IS CHANGING AS BY AN INCREASING NUMBER OF JURISDICTIONS ADOPT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SYSTEM. THE PRACTITIONER OF LEGAL MEDICINE CAN EXPECT EXPOSURE TO A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES. OUTSIDE THE LABORATORY, HIS EXPERTISE IS REQUIRED IN FORMULATING SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS SUCH AS EUTHANASIA, MEDICAL MALPRACTICE, DEFINING DEATH, AND DEVELOPING EFFICIENT HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEMS. SIMILARLY, THE PRACTITIONER'S BACKGROUND QUALIFIES HIM TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES OF HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION AND DRUG ABUSE. PRACTITIONERS OF THE FIELD WILL PLAY AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN SOLVING COMPLEX SOCIETAL PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION, SEVERAL SPECIALTIES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE LEGAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER IN THE FORENSIC SCIENCE FIELD. THESE SPECIALTIES INCLUDE FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY, TOXICOLOGY, ODONTOLOGY, PATHOLOGY, AND PSYCHIATRY. BASICALLY, LEGAL MEDICINE INVOLVES THE INTERPROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LAW AND MEDICINE. QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE A MEDICAL DEGREE AND RESIDENCY TRAINING, FOLLOWED BY LAW SCHOOL. SPECIALIZATION IN A FORENSIC SCIENCE AREA IS RECOMMENDED BECAUSE OF THE SHEER VOLUME OF INFORMATION RELATING TO EACH SPECIALTY. IN ADDITION TO THE FORMAL REQUIREMENTS, COMMAND OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND THE ABILITY TO PRESENT MEDICAL FINDINGS IN A CLEAR, COMPREHENSIVE MANNER IN THE COURTROOM ARE ESSENTIAL. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED IN THE CHAPTER.