POLICE SURGEON (FROM NEW POLICE SURGEON - A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CLINICAL FORENSIC MEDICINE, 1978, BY H S BURGES AND J E HILTON - SEE NCJ-61742)

• NCJ Number: 61743
• Author(s): R H COOKE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Hutchinson Benham Ltd
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

THE ROLE OF THE POLICE SURGEON IS DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF ITS RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS; A BRIEF HISTORY OF LEGAL MEDICINE AND MEDICOLEGAL PRACTICE IN GREAT BRITAIN ARE HIGHLIGHTED.

Abstract

THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE TODAY IN CASES INVOLVING EXPERT MEDICAL EVIDENCE IS HAMPERED BY INDIFFERENCE TO THE SUBJECT OF MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE IN MEDICAL SCHOOLS, AND BY THE PERSISTENCE OF MEDIEVAL NOTIONS ON MEDICAL SUBJECTS AMONG LEGISLATORS AND JURISTS. THE MODERN CONCEPT OF LEGAL MEDICINE EVOLVED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF RENAISSANCE ITALY, FROM WHICH IT SPREAD ACROSS WESTERN EUROPE. PAULUS ZACCHIAS (1584-1659) IS REGARDED AS THE FATHER OF FORENSIC MEDICINE; HE PUBLISHED A WORK DEALING WITH THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF WOUNDS, ESPECIALLY OF THE EYE. IN BRITAIN, LEGAL MEDICINE BECAME A SEPARATE SCIENCE ONLY DURING THE 19TH CENTURY, WHEN CHAIRS OF LEGAL MEDICINE WERE ESTABLISHED IN ITS MEDICAL SCHOOLS. WITH THE INCREASING COMPLEXITY OF MODERN CIVILIZATION, CRIMES FREQUENTLY INVOLVE THE USE OF SOPHISTICATED SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUES. THEREFORE, THE SPECIALIST WITH CLINICAL FORENSIC EXPERTISE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CRIME DETECTION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRAINING OF MEDICAL STUDENTS IN EITHER CLINICAL FORENSIC MEDICINE OR FORENSIC PATHOLOGY IS, WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS, NON-EXISTENT. POLICE SURGEONS FORM THE ONLY SEMBLANCE OF NUMERICAL STRENGTH AS PROGENITORS OF MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE AND COMPRISE THE ONLY PROPONENTS OF CLINICAL FORENSIC MEDICINE. PERSONS PERFORMING SIMILAR FUNCTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE REFERRED TO AS MEDICAL EXAMINERS. ETHICAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC STANDARDS IN THE FIELD HAVE GREATLY IMPROVED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF POLICE SURGEONS OF GREAT BRITAIN, FOUNDED IN 1951; ADDITIONAL SOCIETIES HAVE BEEN FORMED TO FURTHER THE DISSEMINATION OF MEDICOLEGAL KNOWLEDGE. AT THE REQUEST OF THE POLICE SURGEON GIVES POLICE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF UNBIASED RESPONSE TO ANY SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH HIS HELP IS DEEMED NECESSARY. HIS SERVICES MAY ALSO BE REQUESTED BY BARRISTERS OR SOLICITORS, PROBATION OFFICERS, OTHER MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, HOSPITAL MEDICAL OFFICERS, PATHOLOGISTS, AND PRISON OFFICERS. (LWM)