engleski

Current state of clinical forensic medicine in Croatia

Forensic medicine is commonly used to describe all aspects of forensic work. In broad terms, a forensic pathologist generally deal with the deceased, and a point of interest of forensic physicians are living individuals. There are many areas where both, clinical and pathological, aspects of forensic medicine overlap, and this is reflected in the history and development of the specialty as a whole and its current practice. Clinical forensic medicine refers to that branch of medicine that involves an interaction among law, judiciary and police officials, generally involving living persons. The practitioners of clinical forensic medicine have been given many different names throughout the years, but the term forensic physician has become more widely accepted. The use of general practitioners (primary care physicians) with a special interest in clinical forensic medicine is common in some countries (UK, Australia, Netherlands…) and in some countries physicians and residents, principally from the specialities of emergency medicine, pediatrics, surgery and gynecology, are performing clinical forensic examinations. These physicians generally have little or no forensic training and yet may be expected to render “expert forensic opinions”. They are well trained to provide competent medical treatment but may be unable to provide the patient with an equally competent forensic evaluation. Currently, there are great differences in approach and examination of victims of physical and sexualized violence, as well in their rights, in the different states of European Union (EU). Therefore, supporting the victims of crime, European Parliament and the Council adopted Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards on the rights. The purpose of this Directive is to ensure that victims of crime receive appropriate information, support and protection and are able to participate in criminal proceedings. In this lecture, we will present the current position of clinical forensic medicine in Croatia ; our difficulties, plans and aims for the future.

clinical forensic medicine, forensic physician, forensic examination

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