Topic A - Forensic Medicine > Section A.A.1.0. Forensic History > Unit.A.1.1. Historical Firsts and Facts

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Unit.A.1.1. Historical Firsts and Facts

Global
focus points
"The field of forensic medicine utilizes sophisticated technologies to conduct its investigations. Computerization and advanced instrumentation enable the detection and identification of minute quantities of chemical substances while scanning electron microscopy and detect gunshot residues on both suspects and victims. However, forensic medicine deals not only with criminal cases, but also with accident prevention, substance abuse, child abuse, and motor vehicle accidents" (Chien, 1996).

Australia
focus points

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Canada
focus points

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China
focus points

"Evolution of Forensic Science- Legal medicine was the term used for the application of medical knowledge to the investigation of crime. The Chinese book Hsi Duan Yu (The Washing Away of Wrongs), which appeared in 1248, provided the first association of medicine and law (Kind & Overman, 1972, cited in Almirall & Furton, 1995). The book offered useful advice, such as distinguishing drowning (water in the lungs) and strangulation (pressure marks on the throat and damaged cartilage in the neck) from death by natural causes" (Almirall & Furton, 1995).

Egypt
focus points

"The Egyptians and Babylonians possessed considerable knowledge of practical anatomy, unknown for many centuries to the physicians of other nations because of religious and social prejudices against dissection of the dead" (Chien, 1996).

International
focus points

"The field of forensic medicine utilizes sophisticated technologies to conduct its investigations. Computerization and advanced instrumentation enable the detection and identification of minute quantities of chemical substances while scanning electron microscopy and detect gunshot residues on both suspects and victims. However, forensic medicine deals not only with criminal cases, but also with accident prevention, substance abuse, child abuse, and motor vehicle accidents" (Chien, 1996).

United Kingdom
focus points

"Medico-legal activities or the role of coroner began in England in the 1100s for the purpose of preventing financial abuses against the crown by English Sheriffs" (Fisher, 1973; Paul, 1974, cited in Henson, 1987, p. 76).

"Forensic medicine evolved in England in the 1100's from the medicolegal need to determine cause of death, so that the decision to impose a suicide penalty could be rendered" (Spitz & Fisher, 1980, cited in Schramm, 1991 p. 670).

United States
focus points

"The first autopsy in the US was performed in the 1600s in Talbot County, Maryland" (Spitz & Fisher, 1980, cited in Schramm, 1991, p. 672).

"The first colonial coroner ruling was recorded in 1635 in New England" (Spitz & Fisher, 1980, cited in Schramm, 1991, p. 672).

"The English coroner system began in the U.S. on January 29, 1637" (Fisher, 1973, cited in Henson, 1987, p. 76).

Focus Points Reference

Almirall, .J. R. & Furton, K. G. (1995). The evolution, practice and future of the use of science in the administration of justice- The importance of standards in forensic science. Standardization News, 23 (4). Retrieved May18, 2002 from: http://www.mdpd.com/astmhtm.html

Chien, H. C. (1996). History of Forensic Medicine. Retrieved Nov 1997 from http://140.116.5.4/~chungho/history.htm (no longer functional)

Henson, T. K. (1987). Medicolegal role in detection and prevention of human abuse. Holistic Nursing Practice, 1 (2), 75-83.

Rudin, N. (2002) Forensic science timeline. Education in forensic science. Website: Forensic DNA Consulting/NR/KPI 1998-02, Retrieved March 15, 2002 from http://www.forensicdna.com

Schramm, C.A. (1991). Forensic medicine: What the perioperative nurse needs to know? AORN American Operating Nurses Journal, 53 (3), 669-692.


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From 'forensic presentations' in the forensic sourcebooks the following presentations have been selected for this unit:

Unit.A.1.1. Historical Firsts and Facts

Australia
Presentation(s)

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Canada
Presentation(s)

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United Kingdom
Presentation(s)

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United States
Presentation(s)

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This section will continually be added to with guest presentations from forensic experts locally, nationally and internationally and with student presentations.

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From 'forensic cases' in the forensic sourcebooks the following case studies have been selected for this unit

Unit.A.1.1. Historical Firsts and Facts

Australia
case study

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Canada
case study

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United Kingdom
case study

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United States
case study

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From 'forensic experts' in the forensic sourcebooks the following panel of experts has been selected for this unit:

Unit.A.1.1. Historical Firsts and Facts

forensic panels of experts

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Australia
authors/experts

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Canada
authors/experts

Dr. John Butt

United Kingdom
authors/experts

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United States
authors/experts

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