This Bloomsbury Professional book comprehensively covers all aspects of the relationship between forensic medicine and law. By consulting this book, lawyers in both civil and criminal cases will be in a position not only to understand medical and forensic science witnesses, but also to evaluate and question their evidence from a position of strength. Expert witnesses consulting it will be able to appreciate the legal implications of their findings and opinions.
The fifth edition details the medical and legal considerations that must be faced by forensic pathologists, from the point of reporting a death to investigating and diagnosing the cause of death. It examines forensic issues relating to non-lethal violence, mental health and public health, and also considers general issues relating to medical ethics, negligence, and the regulation of the medical profession. Legislative and case law developments covered include The Human Rights Act 1998; The Sexual Offences Act 2003; The Human Tissue Act 2004 and Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006, and their impact upon the system of disposing of bodies, and on transplantation of organs; The Gender Recognition Act 2004; The Mental Health Act 2007; the cases of Sally Clarke and Angela Cannings, which prompted a rethink of aspects of child deaths; the impact of the Shipman Inquiry; and new proposals relating to the reporting of death and the coroners system more generally.
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6 The spread of communicable disease: some aspects of public health
10 Accidental injury and death due to deceleration and acceleration
24 Medico-legal aspects of alcohol
Appendix C Duty of the doctor to report a death to the coroner
Appendix F Deaths reportable after investigation by the procurator fiscal to the Crown Office
Appendix G Approximate times of appearance of some centres of ossification
Appendix J Control of infectious diseases in England and Wales
Appendix L Occupations for which pneumoconiosis is prescribed
Appendix M Diseases reportable to the Health and Safety Executive
Appendix N Some useful equivalents of weight, capacity, length and temperature
Appendix O Some medical and dental qualifications in the United Kingdom
Appendix P Notes on the International System of Units (SI Units)
Appendix Q Therapeutic and toxic concentrations of some commonly used drugs