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-

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• 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