321 FORM Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

Course Title (Symbol and No.):           321 FORM Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
Credit Hours:                                     2 (2 + 0)
Contact Clock Hours:                          Theoretical:                                   30 h
                                                        Clinical Tutorials & Practices:           30 h
Summary of Course Contents
This course deals with the principles of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. The main emphasis is on identification and examination of x-ray for age determination, mechanical injuries, fire arm injuries, burns, mechanical asphyxiation and poisoning. The course also includes discussion on the medical ethics as related to Forensic Medicine.
 
Specific Course Objectives
The course will enable students to make medico-legal judgment and reporting on simple cases of injuries, death certification and poisoning. Moreover, it directs them to adopt the ethics of the profession.
 
Course Outline
The course covers in lectures and practical/demonstration the following topics:
¨       Identification
¨       Diagnosis of death.
¨       Post-mortem changes.
¨       Sudden death from natural/pathological causes
¨       Mechanical injuries. Fire-arm injuries.
¨       Injuries due to physical agents: thermal burns, X-ray burns, chemical burns electrical burns and electrocution, damage due to radio-active substances, hypothermia.
¨       Mechanical asphyxiation
¨       Child abuse.
¨       Forensic aspects of pregnancy, abortion, and delivery
¨       Medical ethics; law in relation to medicine
¨       Sexual offences
¨       Clinical Toxicology: General Management of Poisoning Emergencies
¨       Drug dependence.
¨       Insecticides
 
 Practices:
1.   Attendance at Medico-legal autopsies (Central Hospital).
2.   Attendance at the Casualty Department for Clinical Forensic Medicine cases (e.g. wounding, traffic accident cases, drunkenness and drug intake, sexual offences etc.)
3.   Visits to the Forensic Science Laboratories.
4.   Appropriate slides and video-tape presentations and case study substitute for some of the practical experiences.
 
Evaluation
A.    Continuous Assessment (40Marks).
1.   Class room quizzes.
2.   Two written interim tests.
B.    Final Examination (60 Marks).
1.   Written examination
2.   Practical examination.
 
Text Book
'Simpson's Forensic Medicine', Richard Shepherd (12th Ed), Arnold Publishers ISBN 0340764228.
References
'Knight's Forensic Pathology',(3rd Ed) Saukko P. and B. Knight (2004)