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1. Introduction to Forensic Pharmacy Fayad Bin Abdus Salam, NUB
Introduction to Forensic Pharmacy
Forensic medicine:
Forensic or legal medicine (forensic = of or used in Courts of Law) deals with the
application of medical knowledge to aid in the administration of justice. It is used
by the legal authorities for the solution of legal problems. Some examples are:
applying the medical knowledge in deciding cases of injuries, murder, suicide,
accidents, sexual offences, poisoning, etc. In short, it deals with medical aspect
of law.
Aims of Forensic medicine
 To aid the administration of justice by correlating much medical
knowledge and applying it to the purposes of law.
 Truth or nearest reasonable approach to it that is possible from what is
observed is the sole aim of Forensic Medicine.
 Its particular field of activity is judicial investigation, both civil & criminal.
Though it does not itself prove the case of prosecution. It corroborates
medical evidence in all cases of crime involving person, e.g. homicide,
suicide, assault, sexual offences, traffic accidents, poisoning etc.
 It finds out the medical evidence in all cases of crime involving the
person.
 It deals with medical aspects of law.
Forensic medicine is subdivided into branches, such as:
 Forensic pathology: Branch of Forensic Medicine which deals with the
study & application of medical & pathological principles in determining the
cause & manner of death in case of violence, suspicious, unexplained,
unexpected, sudden & medically unattended deaths.
 Forensic Toxicology: Important subdivision of forensic medicine, dealing
with the comprehensive study of poisons, as regards to their sources,
characters & properties, signs & symptoms they produce, their fatal dose
& fatal period, the details about the treatment to be undertaken for
combating the effects of individual poison & the postmortem appearances
in the event of death.
 Forensic Ballistics: Branch of forensic medicine concerned with the
investigation of firearms ammunition & of the problems arising from their
use.
 Forensic Serology: It is the branch of forensic medicine which deals with
the examination of blood, saliva, urine or other body fluids and seminal
staining & their specific tests to detect crimes.
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2. Introduction to Forensic Pharmacy Fayad Bin Abdus Salam, NUB
 Forensic Radiology(X- ray): Branch of forensic medicine which deals
with X-ray examination for determination of age in various criminal cases,
detection of foetus, missile, diagnosis of head injuries, live birth etc.
 Forensic Dactylography: It is the branch of Forensic medicine which
deals with finger print system, which can be regarded as the most
characteristic datum for establishment of absolute identity of an individual.
 Forensic Thanatology: Branch of Forensic medicine dealing with the
medical & legal aspects of death.
 Forensic Psychiatry: It deals with the application of psychiatry for
evaluations in legal purposes.
 Forensic Obstetrics: Branch of Forensic medicine dealing normal &
abnormal deliveries.
 Forensic Odontology: Branch of Forensic medicine which deals with the
science of dentistry as it relates to the law.
 Forensic Criminology: Branch of Forensic medicine which deals with
the crimes & criminals.
 Clinical Forensic Medicine: Deals with living person.
Scope of Forensic medicine:
 Forensic medicine deals with those aspects of medical science which are
needed for application of scientific facts in legal matter, both civil &
criminal.
 It embraces all those aspects of medicine including its fundamental,
physical, chemical & biological principles such as specialties like forensic
pathology & toxicology in order to bring it into partnership with the process
of law.
 It deals with the application of principles and knowledge of facts of
medicine to the purposes of law, both civil & criminal.
There are two distinct aspects of law-medicine relationship:
1) Forensic medicine and
2) Medical jurisprudence.
They are essentially different subjects, but are closely related.
Medical jurisprudence:
Medical jurisprudence (juris = law; prudential = knowledge) deals with legal
responsibilities of the physician with particular reference to those arising from
physician-patient relationship, such as medical negligence cases, consent, rights
& duties of doctors, serious professional misconduct, medical ethics, etc. In
short, it deals with legal aspects of practice of medicine.
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3. Introduction to Forensic Pharmacy Fayad Bin Abdus Salam, NUB
Role of medical jurisprudence:
 It is the subject concerned with the knowledge of law in relation to the
practice of medicine.
 It deals with the responsibilities of the doctors with particular reference to
those arising from doctor-patient relationship, doctor-doctor relationship
and doctor-state relationship such as medical negligence cases, consent,
rights and duties of doctors, infamous conduct, Medical ethics etc.
In short, it deals with legal aspects of medical practice.
Difference between Forensic medicine & Medical jurisprudence:
Forensic Medicine Medical Jurisprudence
1. It deals with medical aspects of law. 1. It deals with the legal aspects of
medical practice.
2. It brings the medical personnel into
contact with courts of law.
2. It brings relationship between doctor
& patient, also doctor & society.
3. It deals with the application of
medical & para-medical knowledge in
the administration of justice.
3. It deals with legal responsibilities of
doctors with particular reference to
those arising from:
 Doctor-patient relationship
 Doctor-state relationship
 Doctor-doctor relationship
 Medical negligence cases.
4. It has some subdivisions. 4. No such subdivisions.
5. Can be applied to all. 5. Applied only to the doctors.
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