Competencies - گروه پزشکی قانونی دانشکده پزشکی انگلیسی

Applied Forensic Medicine Course Outline

The “Applied Forensic Medicine” course outline has been developed for medical sciences students and covers topics related to the physician’s legal responsibilities, patients’ rights, documentation, forensic medicine in midwifery and dentistry, and related medical law topics.

Course Information

Course Title

Applied Forensic Medicine
For Medical Sciences Students

Target Audience

General Medicine, Dentistry, Midwifery, and MSc Midwifery

Credits

1 Theoretical / 1 Practical

Responsible Instructor

Dr. Soheila Sadat Vaghefi
Faculty Member, Shahid Beheshti University

Educational Objectives

Knowledge

Understanding laws related to medical malpractice, procedures for completing death certificates, and clinical examinations.

Skills

Ability to document medical records appropriately to reduce the risk of legal claims.

Attitudes

Understanding the importance of medical ethics when dealing with victims of violence, child abuse, and accidents.

Summary of Course Topics

Legal Foundations and Responsibilities

Medical errors, civil and criminal liability of healthcare professionals, malpractice, and the physician’s legal responsibility in legal claims.

Informed Consent and Risk Management

Elements of informed consent, documentation, high-risk surgical procedures, and potential complications.

Rights of Children and Adolescents

Identification of injuries, protective protocols, and reporting duties in cases of child abuse.

Rights of Patients Under 18

Intellectual maturity versus legal age and decision-making capacity in medical treatment.

Guardianship and Medical Decision-Making

Legal guardianship, the distinction between parents and legal guardians, and decision-making in cases of parental disagreement.

Unidentified Patients

Management of unidentified patients, recording physical characteristics, treatment priorities, and identification procedures.

Forensic Medicine in Midwifery

Abortion, neonatal death, complications of childbirth, and legal responsibilities concerning fetuses and newborns.

Forensic Medicine in Dentistry

Maxillofacial trauma, injuries resulting from violence, and identification through dental evidence.

Documentation and Report Writing

Preparation of detailed reports, accurate description of injuries, and prevention of ambiguity in judicial records.

Review and Final Examination

Review of the topics, response to practical questions, and comprehensive assessment of legal and medical ethics knowledge.

Teaching and Assessment Methods

Teaching Method

A combination of interactive lectures, case-based learning, and moot court simulation.

Assignments

Analysis of a medical malpractice case and preparation of a simulated clinical examination report.

Attendance and active participation in discussions 20%

Mid-course assignments 20%

Final examination; multiple-choice and short-answer questions 60%

References

Jones, R. M., & Whitaker, M. I. (2017). Getting to the core of medicine.
Kennedy, K. M., & Wilkinson, A. (2018). A student selected component in forensic and legal medicine.
Payne-James, J. et al. (2024). Current status of undergraduate teaching in forensic & legal medicine in Europe.
Jones, R. M., & Whitaker, M. I. (2016). Recommendations for teaching upon sensitive topics.
Kamran, S. et al. (2021). Comparison of team-based and traditional teaching methods.
Ansari, R. Z. et al. (2018). Undergraduate forensic medicine & toxicology curriculum.