| CODE | PAT5753 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Forensic Medicine | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Pathology | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit comprises an introduction to forensic medicine as a basis for interpretation of medical and scientific evidence in legal cases, particularly in a case, with a view to appreciating the value and the limitations of medical evidence, within the context of local and European legislation. The topics covered include: Forensic Pathology: Identification of wounds, including firearm wounds, complications of wounds, manner and time of death, investigation of unnatural deaths (asphyxia, thermal injuries, deaths in water, drug abuse), violent deaths (physical and sexual abuse in children and the elderly, torture); Criminalistics: Scene of crime investigation, including crimes at sea, evidence collection, DNA technology, identification of victims, aspects of toxicology, IT technology and crime; Corrections and Security: Alternative corrections (probation, community service), terrorism and criminal justice, Maltese security forces, IT security; Medical Law: Regulation of medical practice, legal duties of doctors, medical negligence, regulation of medicines, poisons and drugs of abuse. The course will be delivered with a mixture of lectures and interactive tutorials, where the student is expected to deliver a presentation. Study-unit Aims: The main aim of the study-unit is to provide a basic grounding in forensic science and medicine, which will enable an appreciation of the value of medical and scientific evidence in the investigation of crime and in the judiciary process, thus ensuring a successful and just outcome in a legal case. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Explain the legal issues necessitating investigation of deaths; - Describe the pathological changes after death and the types of wounds; - Explain the role of medical and scientific experts; - Discuss the basic scientific concepts underlying collection and interpretation of scientific evidence, including new technologies, e.g. DNA typing and IT; - Discuss the limitations of forensic evidence; - Review local legislation relevant to trauma, drug cases and medical practice; - Refine the role of probation and the probation services in Malta; & - Outline the role of security forces and the criminal justice system in dealing with terrorism in Malta. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply relevant legislation in relation to collection of evidence; - Apply relevant legislation to drug prescribing and substance abuse; - Use basic medical knowledge and scientific data to assess time of death, identification, traumatic injuries and complications of injuries; - Assess traumatic injuries in terms of legal significance; - Correlate specific types of head injuries to specific mechanisms of wounding; - Appraise medical evidence in unnatural deaths to establish the manner of death; & - Analyze local medical law in terms of rights of victims and protection of vulnerable individuals. 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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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite qualifications: LL.B | ||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Tiffany Buhagiar Paul Caruana George Cremona John Charles Ellul Reuben Lanfranco David Mamo Nicoletta Riva Sandra Scicluna Joanna Vella 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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