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14 November 2011
OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC MEDICINE
Forensic pathology is not synonymous with forensic medicine
Forensic medicine concerns the use of medical knowledge for the purposes of the law and the study of the law as it relates to medical practice
The term “Forensic” was derived from “forum”, the Latin word for the market place
SCOPE OF FORENSIC MEDICINE
Medical Jurisprudence- The law relating to medical practice
Clinical Forensic Medicine Toxicology Forensic Pathology
MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE
Medical Acts and Medical Councils Medical certificates Dangerous Drugs Medical Ethics: -consent;
negligence; professional secrecy
CLINICAL FORENSIC MEDICINE
Examination of hospital patients for the purpose of the law
All hospital patients are potential medicolegal cases
Clinical Forensic Medicine cases include:- Drunks, victims of Rape, Accidents and Industrial disease
TOXICOLOGY
The study of the signs and symptoms of poisoning in the living and the recognition of poisoning in the dead
Poison can cause sudden death and must therefore be excluded in all cases of sudden unexpected deaths
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
Concerns the examination of the dead for the purpose of law
All the citizens of a country belong to the state
The state is therefore interested in the circumstances and the cause of death of the citizens.
FORENSIC PATHOLOGYExamination of living or dead to determine/permit: Cause, mechanism, and manner of disease,
injury, or death Identification of persons; Significance of biological and physical evidence; Correlation and reconstruction of wounds,
wound patterns, and sequences; and Performance of comprehensive medicolegal
death investigations
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
Forensic pathology applies techniques of pathology to the needs and protection of public health, public safety, quality assurance, education in medicine, research, jurisprudence, and the administration of justice
Its highest goal is the development of strategies to prevent injury, disease, and death
BACKGROUND The practice of all professionals must be
regulated by law so as to ensure
a. Protection of practitioners from quacks
b. Protection of public from qualified practitioners Hammurabi Code, Hippocratic Oath In early days the offices of the physician and
priest resided in a single individual Of the 3 learned professions (physician, lawyer
and priest), Medicine is the only noble profession
MEDICAL AND DENTAL
PRACTITIONER’S ACT
General Council for Medical Education (1858)Medical and Dental Practitioner’s Act of 1963Revised in 1990 and 2004Standards of knowledge and skillMaintenance of register of practitionersPreparation of code of conductSupervising the practice of alternative medicineRegulations of operation of clinical laboratory practicePerformance of other functions conferred on the Council by law
MEMBERSHIP OF COUNCIL
Seventy-one statutory membersChairman (Registrar) of Council, appointed by President2 representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH)Chief Medical Officer of each State MOH11 representatives of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)1 representative of the National Postgraduate Medical CollegeThe Director-General of the Armed Forces Medical Corps3 representatives of the recognized medical schools in Nigeria2 representatives of the medical and dental professions appointed by the Minister of Health11 members (9 NMA, 2 NDA)1 representative alternate medical practitioner2 pathologists
STATUTORY ROLES OF COUNCIL
Medical education Medical registration Professional
discipline
MEDICAL EDUCATION
Regulation of undergraduate medical education
Preregistration year of medical training (housemanship)
Regulation of the practice of expatriates or other foreign medical graduates
MEDICAL REGISTRATION
Ignorance is no excuse in law Provisional registration Full registration Limited (temporary) registration Registration of postgraduate
medical and dental qualifications
PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINE
MEDICAL AND DENTAL PRACTITIONERS’ INVESTIGATING PANEL
Panel includes 15 members of Council of which at least 3 should be dental surgeons
MEDICAL/DENTAL PRACTITIONERS’ DISCIPLINARY TRIBUNAL
Tribunal members includes President (Registrar) of Council and 10 other members of Council (including 4 members of the NMA in Council, 2 dental surgeons and 4 others)
Advised by Senior Advocate of Nigeria
“INFAMOUS CONDUCT IN A PROFESSIONAL
RESPECT”
• Illegal abortion• Adultery• Alcoholism• Drug addiction• Inappropriate
association• Undue self-
advertisement
• False certification• Breach of
professional secrecy
• Falsification of expenses
• Medical negligence
MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE
For a case of medical negligence to be proved legally, it must be established that
Doctor owed patient a duty of care Breach in the duty Patient suffered injury as a result
OUTCOMES OF TRIBUNAL HEARING
A simple reprimand Temporarily suspension from practicing for
a period of not more than 6 months Permanently deletion or striking off name
from Medical Register either permanently, or for a prescribed period of not less than 2 years
A doctor on suspension may re-apply after the period of suspension to get back on the register
THANKS FOR LISTENING