Journal of Clinical and Medical Sciences

Types and Purposes of Forensic Medicine

Richard Nuland^* Department of Clinical Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
^*Correspondence: Richard Nuland, Department of Clinical Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, Email:

Received: 11-Aug-2022, Manuscript No. JCMS-22-18558; Editor assigned: 15-Aug-2022, Pre QC No. JCMS-22-18558(PQ); Reviewed: 30-Aug-2022, QC No. JCMS-22-18558; Revised: 07-Sep-2022, Manuscript No. JCMS-22-18558(R); Published: 14-Sep-2022, DOI: 10.35248/2593-9947.22.6.198

Description

Identification of disaster victims, such as those of a landslide or plane crash, heavily relies on forensic medicine. Forensic pathologists can have a big impact on how cases involving insurance and inheritance turn out when determining the cause of death. On issues like deliberate poisonings and drug use, the forensic toxicologist provides testimony. In cases of industrial and environmental poisoning, the toxicologist's function has become increasingly crucial. Forensic medicine is divided into two basic categories: clinical and pathological, with the patients' conditions serving as the defining characteristic of each.

In clinical forensic medicine, trauma to living patients is investigated, whereas in pathological forensic medicine, trauma to the deceased is examined to determine the cause of death. Examining suspects and victims in cases of rape, child abuse, domestic violence, and criminal assault are the main areas of clinical forensic practice. All medical specialties that could be connected to judicial, legal, or police systems are included in clinical forensic medicine.

Forensic pathologists gather and examine tissue samples under a microscope to ascertain the presence or absence of natural disease and other microscopic findings, such as asbestos bodies in the lungs or gunpowder particles around a gunshot wound. The human remains will be examined by a forensic pathologist who will also take death scene evidence into account. In addition, in cases of fatalities caused by firearms or other projectiles, the pathologist may spot a wound pattern that can be linked to a specific weapon or can identify entry and exit wounds. It primarily deals with the examination and evaluation of people who have been or are suspected of having been hurt or murdered by an outside force, such as trauma or intoxication, as well as people who are suspected of having hurt someone else.

On the other hand, people who sustain nonfatal injuries as a result of self-inflicted, unintentional, or accidental harm or drunkenness are typically only treated by the medical system. It is the use of medical expertise in a criminal inquiry, especially when determining the exact moment and cause of death. The use of medical expertise to ascertain the origins of injuries is referred to as forensic medicine. There are other forensic specialties, such as forensic botany, digital forensics, and art forensics. Additionally, there are forensic astronomy, forensic anthropology, and forensic archaeology.

The field of forensic medicine is so vast that no single practitioner can realistically claim to be an authority on every facet of this varied specialty. This is likely unique in the medical field. In situations involving rape, forensic medicine has also grown in significance. A method called as DNA fingerprinting can be used to match the defendant's genetic composition to samples of the criminal's semen, blood, and hair found in the victims' bodies. This method can also be used to identify the victim's body.

Nearly all of forensic medicine's cases involve crimes against people. The main objective is to provide a reliable source of medical scientific knowledge in order to meet legal requirements. Forensic medicine is mostly an application of common sense along with knowledge and expertise gained in other areas of medicine. In forensic medicine, facts are observed and evidence is gathered in order to draw the appropriate conclusions from a medicolegal examination.

Medical law covers issues including medical malpractice, consent, the rights and obligations of doctors, serious professional misconduct, etc., with particular emphasis on those resulting from the doctor-patient connection.

Medical ethics is concerned with the moral principles that should direct medical professionals in their interactions with one another, their patients, and the government.

Medical etiquette is concerned with the customary rules of politeness followed by professionals in the medical field.