Legal and Forensic Medicine and Medical Law

Recommended Prerequisites

Before starting this unit, students should possess the following knowledge base:

- Introduction to Medicine

- Introduction to Scientific Research

- Basic medical and specialty knowledge (Physiology, Pathophysiology, Pathology, Clinical Medicine, etc..).

- Information Technology

Teaching Methods

Lectures, practical classes (involving assistance to forensic expertise and case studies), seminars and preparation of a monograph on the a medicolegal subject at the choice of the student.

Learning Outcomes

The curricular unit of Legal Medicine aims to provide to the future professional the basic skills that any doctor should have in order to know, in the course of his professional practice, how to identify and steer situations with possible medicolegal relevance (situations of mistreatment, abuse, aggression, simulations, etc.) and to adopt the necessary procedures for proper articulation of medicine with the judiciary and forensic system. in terms of identifying, collecting, packaging and preservation of any evidence and samples; necessary  to substantiate later diagnoses and expert evaluations; advice and guidance of their patients regarding the obligations and the rights they enjoy from the judicial point of view and the need to adopt a permanent posture of prudence, objectivity, accuracy and fairness.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

General Aspects (6 hours); Thanatology (6 hours); Forensic pathology (10 hours); Clinical forensic medicine (14 hours); Forensic Genetics (6 hours); Forensic toxicology (6 hours); Legal Medicine and other forensic areas (6 hours); Medical Law (10 hours)

Head Lecturer(s)

Duarte Nuno Pessoa Vieira

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Other: 2.5%
Research work: 7.5%
Exam: 90.0%

Bibliography

- Payne-James, J; Byard, R.W; Corey, T.; Henderson, C. (Eds): Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine. Amsterdam,  Elsevier, 2005.

- Saukko, P.; Knight, B.:  Knight’Forensic Pathology, 3rd ed., London, Arnold, 2004

- Siegel, J.; Saukko, P.; Knupfer, G. (Eds): Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences. San Diego, Academic Press, 2000.