Journal of Clinical and Medical Sciences

Scope of Forensic Medicine in Criminal Justice and their Diagnosis

Franciotti Mirella^* Department of Internal Medicine, G. D’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
^*Correspondence: Franciotti Mirella, Department of Internal Medicine, G. D’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy, Email:

Received: 01-Mar-2023, Manuscript No. JCMS-23-21018; Editor assigned: 03-Mar-2023, Pre QC No. JCMS-23-21018(PQ); Reviewed: 17-Mar-2023, QC No. JCMS-23-21018; Revised: 24-Mar-2023, Manuscript No. JCMS-23-21018(R); Published: 31-Mar-2023, DOI: 10.35248/2593-9947.23.7.219

Description

Forensic medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with the application of medical knowledge to legal issues. It involves the examination and diagnosis of individuals who have been injured or died due to external or unnatural causes, such as poisoning, assault, suicide, and other forms of violence. Forensic medicine also helps to identify the victims of disasters, such as landslides or plane crashes, and to determine the cause and manner of death. Forensic medicine can provide valuable evidence for criminal investigations and court cases. It is a multidisciplinary field that includes several specialties, such as forensic pathology, forensic psychiatry, forensic dentistry, forensic radiology, and forensic toxicology. Each specialty has its own methods and techniques to examine different aspects of a case. Forensic pathology is the study of the human body after death. It involves performing autopsies, which are systematic examinations of the internal and external organs and tissues of the deceased. Forensic pathologists can determine the cause of death, which is the disease or injury that directly leads to death, and the manner of death, which is the classification of death as natural, accidental, suicidal, homicidal, or undetermined. Forensic pathologists can also estimate the time of death, which is the interval between death and discovery of the body, by observing changes such as rigor mortis, liver mortis, Alger mortis, decomposition, and insect activity. Forensic pathologists can also provide information about the type of weapon used, the range and angle of fire, the direction and sequence of wounds, and other contextual details by examining the injuries on the body.

Forensic psychiatry is the study of the mental health and behavior of individuals involved in legal matters. It involves assessing the competency, sanity, responsibility, and credibility of suspects, defendants, witnesses, victims, and offenders. Forensic psychiatrists can also evaluate the risk of violence, suicide, recidivism, or reoffending among individuals. Forensic psychiatrists can also provide treatment and rehabilitation for individuals with mental disorders who are in custody or under supervision. Forensic psychiatrists can also testify as expert witnesses in court cases involving criminal law, civil law, family law, or administrative law. Forensic dentistry is the study of dental evidence in legal cases. It involves identifying individuals by comparing their dental records or DNA samples with their teeth or bite marks. Forensic dentists can also determine the age, sex, race, occupation, diet, and health status of individuals by examining their teeth and jaws. Forensic dentists can also analyze injuries caused by teeth or dental instruments on human or animal tissues. Forensic dentists can also assist in mass disaster victim identification by matching dental records with remains.

Forensic radiology is the study of imaging techniques in legal cases. It involves using x-rays, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and other modalities to visualize the internal structures and functions of living or dead individuals. Forensic radiologists can help to identify individuals by comparing their skeletal features or implants with their records or databases.

Conclusion

Forensic radiologists can also help to determine the cause and manner of death by detecting injuries such as fractures, haemorrhages, foreign bodies, or air embolism. Forensic radiologists can also help to estimate the time of death by measuring changes such as gas formation or tissue density. Forensic radiologists can also help to reconstruct events by analysing trajectories or patterns of projectiles or fragments. Forensic toxicology is the study of drugs and poisons in legal cases. It involves detecting and quantifying substances such as alcohol, drugs of abuse, prescription drugs.