Forensic Medicine Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Forensic Medicine, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Forensic Medicine?

(n) Forensic medicine is the section of medicine which studies, practice medical aspects related the determination of a legal issue. Eg. Post-mortem of the body by the forensic medicine department is used as a testimony to decide the possible cause of death.

History and Meaning of Forensic Medicine

Forensic medicine is a field of medicine that deals with the application of medical knowledge to investigate and solve legal issues. Historically, forensic medicine has been used to identify the cause of death, particularly in cases of suspected foul play. However, it has since expanded to cover a wide array of legal disputes including assault, sexual crimes, and workplace accidents. The field is achieved through the determination of precise facts, which are employed by the expert witness to reconstruct the occurrence and device a credible opinion.

Examples of Forensic Medicine

  1. A forensic medical examiner is called to the scene of a suspected homicide to collect and examine evidence, such as blood, tissue samples, and injury evidence, to determine the cause of death.
  2. A forensic psychiatrist is hired to conduct an evaluation to determine the mental state and fitness of a defendant to stand trial.
  3. A forensic toxicologist performs an analysis of a blood sample to determine the presence and concentration of drugs or alcohol in a person's bloodstream.

Legal Terms Similar to Forensic Medicine

  1. Forensic science - the application of scientific knowledge to solve legal issues.
  2. Expert witness - a person who provides specialized knowledge during court proceedings.
  3. Criminalistics - the study of physical evidence related to a crime.