2_ Forensic and State Medicine Laws.pptx

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1. FORENSIC VETERINARY MEDICINE Dr Aashish Dhakal

2. FORENSIC MEDICINE The term ‘Forensic’ is derived from the Latin word forensics, meaning ‘of the forum’. In Rome, forum was the meeting place where civic and legal matters were discussed by the competent authorities. Forensic Medicine is the branch of medicine which deals with the application of medicine for the purpose of law. Medicine and law are related from the earliest times by the bonds of religion, superstition and the magic.

3. In early civilizations, primitive legal codes, religious doctrines, and social precepts (warrant) were often ill distinguished and laws were made accordingly. Application of basic science of judiciary and foretell on the grounds of scientific knowledge to detect crime and responsibility for the damage. It is a special discipline of veterinary procedural steps. Forensic veterinary medicine: The application of veterinary knowledge to questions of law. It is also called Medical Jurisprudence and Legal Medicine.

4. Forensic medicine is now commonly used to describe all aspects of forensic casework- including forensic pathology-that branch of forensic medicine which investigates death, and clinical forensic medicine, which involves interaction between the law, judiciary and the police involving (generally) living persons. Many countries practice clinical forensic medicine and forensic pathology separately while others practice forensic medicine which includes clinical forensic medicine and forensic pathology. In Nepal, the forensic experts deal with both the areas.

5. Veterinary forensic medicine “Veterinary forensic medicine” can be considered the “use of veterinary knowledge applied to the purpose of the law”. Although veterinarians have played a part in such work for many years, it is only in the past decade that the subject has really come into its own. There has been a tendency to equate “veterinary forensics” with the investigation of alleged cruelty to/abuse of an animal. But forensic veterinary medicine provides evidence in a wide range of animal-related litigation.

6. It has also been employed in the context of activities such as insurance claims, appearances at tribunals, inquiries, environmental impact assessments and defending or propounding allegations of professional misconduct or other disciplinary measures. Veterinary forensic medicine is a sub-specialty of veterinary medicine and is intimately associated with the justice system of a country. This includes examination and report on patients (animals) of: assault, road traffic and industrial accidents, sexual assault, labor abuse, neglect and starvation, torture, self-infliction, criminal abortion, criminal poisoning etc. Some of these areas need highly specialized skills for a proper examination and expert opinion.

7. In circumstances where the animal is the victim (the most usual reason for a veterinary involvement), legal cases generally fall into four categories: The animal has died under unusual, unexpected or suspicious circumstances and is investigated with a view to determining the circumstances – that is, the cause, mechanism and manner – of death The animal is alive but exhibits unusual, unexpected or suspicious clinical signs or is injured or incapacitated under unusual or suspicious circumstances The animal’s welfare apparently is, or has been, compromised. In these cases there is a need to determine whether an animal is being (or has been) subjected to unnecessary pain, suffering, discomfort or distress A non-domesticated animal appears to have been taken, killed or kept in captivity unlawfully – a form of “wildlife crime”

8. Methodology of Veterinary Forensic Medicine Dealing with a forensic case that involves animals can involve a variety of techniques: Examination and assessment of the alleged crime and the interviewing of people who are, or are believed to be, involved in the incident or may have relevant information Examination of live animals Examination of dead animals Examination of the environment Collection and identification of specimens, including derivatives and samples, for laboratory testing Correct storage and dispatch of specimens for laboratory testing and presentation of evidence Laboratory tests Production of report(s) Appearance in court Retention of reference material for further court proceedings or for reference

9. The key goal of veterinary forensic medicine is to provide objective evidence of cause, timing, and manner of death for adjudication by the criminal justice system. Today, throughout the world, veterinary sciences have been playing very strong role for disbursement of justice through legal system. But unfortunately, the vetero -legal investigation system in our country still lags far behind the developed countries. Although performed, autopsies are extremely deficient and therefore inappropriate to elucidate crime. The quality of practice of veterinary forensic medicine is also poor. Lack of training to the veterinarians and the staff doing vetero -legal cases and post-mortem examination.

10. There should be great reformation of the vetero -legal service in Nepal. The sensitive job of vetero -legal works should not left to the veterinary officers having inadequate knowledge in the field. Poor opinion is no good than no opinion at all as the later can mislead the case and leads to administration of injustice. Government should strive to train and to attract more qualified personnel, as well as to modernize facilities for the better vetero -legal service in Nepal. There should be qualified veterinarians at the state/ province/ local level livestock office to handle more vetero -legal cases. Nepal Veterinary Council should regulate the graduate/post graduate education in veterinary forensic medicine to reinforce the veterinary colleges to undertake vetero -legal courses.