Clinical Forensic Medicine: Essentials for Emergency Medicine Trainees

This edition of Trainee Focus is the first to introduce the topic of Clinical Forensic Medicine (CFM). Despite its inclusion in the ACEM curriculum, forensic medicine and the associated medicolegal frameworks remain an unfamiliar and poorly understood area of medicine for most trainees. Laws vary between jurisdictions, limiting the generalisability of training. Interactions with Police officers and the criminal justice system can be nerve-wracking, whether on the floor during a shift or when tasked to give evidence at a later date. Misunderstandings about legal process are common among clinicians, due not only to limited training and exposure, but also inaccurate media depictions, contributing to confusion and apprehension. This edition provides a broad overview of the role of CFM in the ED and in the community and demystifies common legal processes. We hope it will give trainees confidence when caring for forensic patients in the ED, wherever they practice.