Age estimation for forensic purposes in Italy: ethical issues

Area of Science:

• Forensic Medicine
• Radiology
• Pediatrics
• Anthropology

Background:

• Increasing numbers of undocumented children and young adults in Europe necessitate reliable age assessment for legal purposes.
• Forensic age estimation is vital due to rising crime rates among minors and the need for accurate identification.
• Radiographic methods evaluating skeletal and dental development are primary tools for chronological age determination in forensic practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the ethical considerations in radiographic age estimation procedures for forensic applications.
• To demonstrate how ethical principles (beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, autonomy) can be upheld during forensic age assessments.
• To advocate for improved standardization and collaboration in forensic age estimation practices.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature and expert experience in radiographic age assessment techniques.
• Analysis of ethical principles applied to forensic age estimation procedures.
• Examination of current international guidelines and protocols for age assessment.

Main Results:

• Radiographic methods for assessing skeletal and dental development provide accurate chronological age estimation in children and adolescents.
• Ethical principles can be effectively integrated into forensic age assessment protocols.
• Existing international guidelines require further harmonization and standardization for consistent application.

Conclusions:

• Forensic age estimation using radiographic methods is ethically sound when guided by established principles.
• Enhanced collaboration among diverse professional societies is essential for standardizing and improving age assessment accuracy and ethical compliance.
• A unified approach to age estimation protocols will strengthen its medicolegal validity.