Forensic and legal medicine in Chile: Cinderella without a prince
Forensic medicine is of enormous importance in the functioning of contemporary justice systems worldwide. Therefore, in order to characterize the current state of medicolegal and forensic activity in Chile, a non-systematic review of the biomedical and legal literature on the subject was carried out...
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| Language: | English |
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Medwave Estudios Limitada
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Medwave |
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| Online Access: | https://www.medwave.cl/revisiones/revisiontemas/2978.html |
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| author | Leonardo González-Wilhelm Mauricio Duce |
| author_facet | Leonardo González-Wilhelm Mauricio Duce |
| author_sort | Leonardo González-Wilhelm |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Forensic medicine is of enormous importance in the functioning of contemporary justice systems worldwide. Therefore, in order to characterize the current state of medicolegal and forensic activity in Chile, a non-systematic review of the biomedical and legal literature on the subject was carried out. An analysis of open sources of information was also incorporated, including the National Registry of Individual Health Care Providers, the latest public accounts of the Forensic Medical Service, relevant background information available on the active transparency portal of that institution, exempt resolutions included in the “Chile Law” database (of the Department of Legislative and Documentary Services of the Library of the National Congress) and the lists of judicial experts appointed by the Courts of Appeals of the country for the biennium 2024 to 2025. We note that Chile maintains an unacceptable historical debt in terms of academic development and training of qualified professionals in forensic matters. Likewise, national scientific productivity in this field is practically null. Currently, forensic medicine is the medical specialty with the deepest shortage of professionals nationwide. Consequently, as in the early part of the last century, medical expert opinions are frequently performed by professionals untrained in forensic medicine. This scenario, taking into account the attitudes of certain lawyers and judges (detailed in the article), increases the risk of a miscarriage of justice. National public policies must take urgent action to address the deficits and provide solutions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c3b7c47f8e0544c091076d24f0ae70c1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0717-6384 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Medwave Estudios Limitada |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medwave |
| spelling | doaj-art-c3b7c47f8e0544c091076d24f0ae70c12024-12-05T16:31:10ZengMedwave Estudios LimitadaMedwave0717-63842024-11-012410e2978e297810.5867/medwave.2024.10.2978Forensic and legal medicine in Chile: Cinderella without a princeLeonardo González-Wilhelm0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8352-8342Mauricio Duce1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5068-926X FORENSIK S.A. (Asesorías Científico-Forenses S.A.), Santiago, Chile Escuela de Gobierno, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, ChileForensic medicine is of enormous importance in the functioning of contemporary justice systems worldwide. Therefore, in order to characterize the current state of medicolegal and forensic activity in Chile, a non-systematic review of the biomedical and legal literature on the subject was carried out. An analysis of open sources of information was also incorporated, including the National Registry of Individual Health Care Providers, the latest public accounts of the Forensic Medical Service, relevant background information available on the active transparency portal of that institution, exempt resolutions included in the “Chile Law” database (of the Department of Legislative and Documentary Services of the Library of the National Congress) and the lists of judicial experts appointed by the Courts of Appeals of the country for the biennium 2024 to 2025. We note that Chile maintains an unacceptable historical debt in terms of academic development and training of qualified professionals in forensic matters. Likewise, national scientific productivity in this field is practically null. Currently, forensic medicine is the medical specialty with the deepest shortage of professionals nationwide. Consequently, as in the early part of the last century, medical expert opinions are frequently performed by professionals untrained in forensic medicine. This scenario, taking into account the attitudes of certain lawyers and judges (detailed in the article), increases the risk of a miscarriage of justice. National public policies must take urgent action to address the deficits and provide solutions.https://www.medwave.cl/revisiones/revisiontemas/2978.htmleducationforensic medicineforensic sciencesprofessional practicechile |
| spellingShingle | Leonardo González-Wilhelm Mauricio Duce Forensic and legal medicine in Chile: Cinderella without a prince Medwave education forensic medicine forensic sciences professional practice chile |
| title | Forensic and legal medicine in Chile: Cinderella without a prince |
| title_full | Forensic and legal medicine in Chile: Cinderella without a prince |
| title_fullStr | Forensic and legal medicine in Chile: Cinderella without a prince |
| title_full_unstemmed | Forensic and legal medicine in Chile: Cinderella without a prince |
| title_short | Forensic and legal medicine in Chile: Cinderella without a prince |
| title_sort | forensic and legal medicine in chile cinderella without a prince |
| topic | education forensic medicine forensic sciences professional practice chile |
| url | https://www.medwave.cl/revisiones/revisiontemas/2978.html |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leonardogonzalezwilhelm forensicandlegalmedicineinchilecinderellawithoutaprince AT mauricioduce forensicandlegalmedicineinchilecinderellawithoutaprince |