Forensic Medicine: A Synopsis of the Past, Present and a Glimpse into the Future Scenarios
S. R. Hulathduwa *
Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Forensic medicine is the science (as well as the art) of applying medical knowledge, skills (and perhaps even the attitudes) to assist in the process of execution of justice. Forensic medicine is broadly divided into clinical forensic medicine and forensic pathology though the boundaries between the two are merging. Forensic pathology is not a pure science as it is nurtured by many other sciences, sociological/criminological disciplines and law. The principle role of forensic pathology today is to deal with numerous medico-legal issues pertaining to all forms of deaths. To achieve this, the principle approach of forensic pathology today in most of the institutions globally is conducting a standard autopsy. In this review article, we expect to discuss the historical development of forensic pathology up to what it is today, its present role and scope as well as the predictable future of forensic pathology with the recent developments of technology.
Keywords: Forensic pathology, history of forensic medicine, hammurabi code, autopsy, morbid anatomy.