Introduction to Forensic Medicine
Forensic medicine is defined as that branch of medicine, which deals with the application of medical and paramedical scientific knowledge to the knowledge of both civil and criminal law in order to aid administration of justice. The word forensic is derived from the Latin word forensis, which implies something pertaining to the forum.
In ancient Nepal, settlement of disputes was done by Panchayat where a group of panchas or five village elders were authorized to settle the dispute. Thus, the word forensic essentially conveys any issue related to the debate in relation to medical matters that can occur in a court of law
Terminologies:
Forensic medicine was earlier known as Medical Jurisprudence (Juris meaning Law and prudentia meaning knowledge)
In the continent of Europe, the term Legal Medicine is often preferred and accepted to explain the interaction of professions of medicine and law.
The two main aspects of legal medicine are pathology and clinical work. Forensic Pathology refers to carrying out autopsies and distinguish the various pathological processes which may occur in the human body as a consequence of aging, natural processes, disease and injuries of various types.
The Clinical Forensic Medicine deals with those who are still alive and on whom a medicolegal opinion is required. This includes those who have been traumatised physically and/or sexually, but who have not succumbed to their injuries, those who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs in relation to such matters as driving, human rights abuses,etc.
Historical Perspectives
The earliest application of forensic science interdiction against suicide ,which was regarded as crime against the public even before Christian era. Greeks believed that man was a servant of the gods, and therefore, that suicide involved rebellion against those gods. Still today m Nepal, people-most often women-in the villages are often accused of being witches and are tortured, beaten, fed feces, or even killed. In the 10th century, suicide was made a crime under common law in England.
Uses of forensic medicine in criminal justice system and public health
1. To aid in the discovery and prosecution of crime: Many people have mistaken belief that this is the solitary duty of the medicolegal investigative system: to investigate obvious homicidal cases. The documentation and preservation of the medical and other evidence, followed by unbiased, scientific, and professional expert testimony in a court of law is one of the function of the forensic medicine.. These are the duties that must be carried out, and that fact should be quite obvious.
2. To protect the innocent
This function, in the considered opinion of this writer, is one of the most important for the agency. It is, however, the very one most likely to be overlooked, even by persons who work closely with the medicolegal system.
3.Protection of public health:This function of forensic medicine lies in identifying and reporting defects,dangerous work conditions, dangerous environmental conditions, illicit drugs abuses,etc that concern public health.
4. To aid in the administration of civil justice: For eg. lack of codes for electrical wiring at construction sites and a failure to adequately train non-electrician workers may lead to civil deaths.Forensic medicine tries to avoid such accidents.
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