Forensic medicine :- Forensic medicine is a branch of forensic science where the principles and knowledge of medicine is used for purposes of the law, (both civil and criminal) and justice.
Different branches of Forensic Medicine:-
· Forensic Pathology: The knowledge of medicine is used to find out the cause of death by performing autopsies/postmortem examinations : (a) In traumatic deaths. (b) In sudden unexpected deaths. (c) Interpreting the mechanism of injuries & giving medicolegal opinion.
· Clinical Forensic Medicine: (a) Medicolegal examination of sexual offences (eg. rape cases) (b) Determination of age for medicolegal purposes. (c)Medicolegal examination of Injuries in Physical Assaults/Battered baby (d) Medicolegal examination of drunkenness. (e) Assessment degree of permanent disabilities, following a factory accident of a workman for compensation.
· Forensic Toxicology: Deals with the sources, characters, properties of poisons, the symptoms they produce, their fatal effects & fatal doses & the remedial measures that should be taken to combat their actions or effects.
· Forensic Thanatology: Investigates the mechanisms and forensic aspects of death, such as, bodily changes that accompany death. The post-mortem period changes.
· Medical Ethics: Deals with the moral principles which should guide members of the medical profession in their dealings with each other, their patients and the State. MedicalMedical etiquette Deals with the conventional laws of courtesy observed between members of the medical profession.
· Medical jurisprudence: Deals with legal responsibilities of the physician with particular reference to those arising from physician-patient relationship, such as: Medical negligence cases, Consent, Rights and duties of doctors, Serious professional misconduct, Medical ethics etc.
· Forensic Odontology/Forensic dentistry: Deals with the proper handling, examination & evaluation of dental evidences, for the interest of justice. • Forensic Odontologists are responsible for: – Identify human remains that cannot be identified using fingerprints or other means. – Identify bodies in mass disasters (eg. Plane crashes) – Determine the source of bite mark injuries, in cases of assault or suspected abuse. – Estimate the age of skeletal remains.
· Forensic Psychiatry: Psychiatric assessment of a person for: insanity in a case of murder - competency as a witness - testamentary capacity in executing a will - validity of consent
· Forensic Anthropology: Assists in the identification of deceased individuals whose remains are decomposed, burned, mutilated or otherwise unrecognizable.
· Forensic Entomology: – covers evidence gathered through insect studies at the scenes of murder, suicide, rape, physical abuse and contraband trafficking. – helpful in determining the post mortem interval & location of a death in question.
· Forensic Serology – detection, classification and study of various bodily fluids (blood, sweat, semen, faecal matter) & their relationship to a crime scene.
Dying Declaration
Word Dying Declaration means a statement written or verbal of relevant facts made by a person, who is dead or about to die. It is the statement of a person who had died explaining the circumstances of his death. This is based on the maxim 'nemo mariturus presumuntur mentri' i.e. a man will not meet his maker with lie on his mouth. The dying declaration is recorded by the Megistrate.
Written by Prachi Baliyan
Volunteer at Applied Forensic Research Sciences
Student of Lovely professional university