Innovative teaching in legal medicine through forensic simulation: a case-based educational project

In Italy, forensic medicine education is traditionally theory-based, which limits students' access to practical experiences due to confidentiality constraints and the complexity of real cases. This paper describes a forensic simulation conducted at the Clinical Simulation Center of the Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, designed to offer students a structured opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge through a staged homicide disguised as a suicide. The activity included a preliminary briefing, an interactive simulation involving actors from the university theater laboratory and sixth-year medical students in specific roles, and a structured debriefing for critical analysis of the investigative process. The simulation allowed students to develop and refine their skills in crime scene investigation, forensic evidence collection, and testimony analysis. Students' feedback suggest that simulation-based learning can support the development of critical thinking, decision-making, and teamwork, representing a useful complement to traditional forensic medicine education. Future developments could include the integration of virtual reality and artificial intelligence to further enhance the realism and accessibility of these learning experiences.