Clinical forensic medicine in the present day trauma-care system--an overview

Criminal violence and its associated trauma comprise a critical health problem throughout the world. Clinical forensic medicine represents a new discipline of medical practice that is evolving in direct response to the sequelae of criminal and interpersonal violence. The application of the principles and standards of the forensic specialist has been increasingly recognized as playing a crucial role in trauma care; the results of the extremes of human behaviour-abused children, individuals suffering from blatant neglect and maltreatment, or self-inflicted injury, and victims of road-traffic accidents, firearm injuries and other assaults. These cases must be reported to a legal agency for investigation and follow-up. As trends in crime and violence change, new antiviolence legislation is likely to be implemented; consequently, new personnel resources are required to ensure that these legislative mandates effectively meet the needs of society.