| CODE | MDS3001 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Forensic Medicine | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 3 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Faculty of Medicine and Surgery | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit comprises an introduction to forensic medicine with emphasis on forensic pathology topics of medico-legal importance, notably wounds, unnatural deaths and forms of abuse, with a view to appreciating the value of medical evidence in criminal investigation. Topics covered include time of death, identification, wounds and complications of injuries, asphyxia, deaths in water, thermal injuries, the investigation of sexual offences, child abuse and poisoning. The legal issues discussed include legislation regulating medical and pharmaceutical practice, legal duties of doctors and control of drugs, including prescribing, as well as medico-legal aspects of drugs of abuse. Study-unit Aims The main aims of the unit are to provide core knowledge of forensic pathology topics as a foundation for: - The medico-legal issues encountered in the criminal justice system; and - The role of medical and scientific evidence. Forensic Medicine also covers relevant legislation regulating medical practice with reference to ethical issues in medical practice. Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Outline the principles of medico-legal investigation, with emphasis on the local system; - Discuss the legal issues necessitating investigation of a death and disposal of a body; - Discuss the pathophysiology of death; - Interpret the relevance of changes after death; - Outline general and specific identification procedures; - Describe the pathological classification of wounds; - Discuss the role and value of medical evidence in gunshot injuries, road traffic accidents, asphyxial deaths, deaths in water, thermal injuries, abortion and poisoning; - Discuss the medical evidence to be collected in cases of abuse: children and elderly abuse, sexual abuse and torture; - Outline the role of forensic science in a forensic investigation; - Explain the local legislation relating to the investigation of deaths, reporting a death and body disposal; - Explain the legal duties of doctors; - Discuss relevant local legislation in relation to registration of healthcarers and to professional medical practice; - Discuss legislation regulating pharmacies; - Discuss the relevant local legislation regarding alcohol and dangerous drugs. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Distinguish between the mode and the manner of death; - Apply basic pathological concepts to assess the time of death; - Distinguish between the types of injuries; - Assess traumatic injuries in terms of legal significance; - Write a death certificate; - Apply relevant legislation in relation to collection of evidence; - Apply relevant legislation to drug prescribing; - Interpret a simple toxicology result. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Recommended Books: Main Text: - Simpson's Forensic Medicine, J. Payne-James, R. Jones, S., J. Manlove, 13th Ed., CRC Press, 2011. ISBN 9780340986035. Reference Texts: - Knight's Forensic Pathology, 4th Ed, P. Saukko and B. Knight, CRC Press, 2015. ISBN 9780340986035. - Clinical Forensic Medicine, W. McLay, 3rd Ed., Cambridge University Press, 2009. ISBN10: 0521705681. - Crime Scene to Court. The Essentials of Forensic Science by T. Coyle, Ed. P.C. White, 3rd Ed, RSC Publishing, 2010. ISBN 10: 1847558828. - Maltese Legislation web site: http://justiceservices.gov.mt/LOM.aspx?pageid=24 - A very good forensic web site: http://www.forensicmed.co.uk/ Internet Resource for Forensic Pathology (also for pathology) photos and tutorials: - http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/FORHTML/FORIDX.html - http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/TUTORIAL/TUTORMUL.html |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study and Group Learning | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | David Pisani Nicoletta Riva Mark Zammit |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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