NCJ Number
57554
Journal
FORENSIC SCIENCE Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (JULY/AUGUST 1977) Pages: 49-52
Editor(s)
J VOIGT
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE AT THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST PERFORM ALL CORONERS' AUTOPSIES, WHILE CRIMINALISTICS INVESTIGATIONS ARE PERFORMED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC SCIENCE.
Abstract
ALMOST ALL MEDICOLEGAL AUTOPSIES ARE CONDUCTED BY THE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE, ALTHOUGH SOME HOSPITAL DEATHS REPORTED TO THE CORONER ARE HANDLED BY HOSPITAL PATHOLOGISTS. ABOUT 15 PERCENT OF DEATHS ARE REPORTED TO ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S CORONERS, MOST OF WHOM ARE LAWYERS AND NOT DOCTORS, AND IN ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THESE CASES A FULL AUTOPSY IS MADE. THE PATHOLOGISTS THEMSELVES CANNOT DECIDE ON THE NEED FOR AN AUTOPSY, BUT THEIR OPINION IS FREQUENTLY SOLICITED. WHEN A CASE IS REPORTED TO THE CORONER, THE POLICE MAKE ENQUIRIES AND FURNISH THE CORONER WITH A REPORT. THEY ALSO TAKE CHARGE OF THE BODY, MOVING IT TO THE MORTUARY, NOTIFYING THE PATHOLOGIST, ATTENDING THE MORTUARY, AND PERFORMING OTHER PRACTICAL TASKS. NORTHERN IRELAND'S MEDICOLEGAL SYSTEM IS VERY COMPACT BECAUSE OF THE RELATIVELY SMALL SIZE OF THE COUNTRY AND THE GOOD COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE GOVERNMENT. THE UNIVERSITY HANDLES ALL AUTOPSIES AND SOME TOXICOLOGY. SEROLOGY, FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY, AND CLINICAL FORENSIC MEDICINE ARE HANDLED BY POLICE SURGEONS, GENERAL PRACTICE PHYSICIANS WHO ASSIST THE POLICE FORCES. THE POLICE LABORATORY HANDLES ALL CRIMINALISTICS INVESTIGATIONS. FORENSIC MEDICINE IS TAUGHT IN A SERIES OF LECTURES, BUT PRACTICAL MEDICOLEGAL AUTOPSY EXPERIENCE IS OPTIONAL. BECAUSE OF ITS COMPACT SYSTEM AND THE POLITICAL TROUBLES OF THE COUNTRY, NORTHERN IRELAND'S FORENSIC PATHOLOGISTS NOW HAVE UNRIVALLED EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH TRAUMA FROM BOTH FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVE DEVICES. (GLR)