Clinical Forensic Medicine
We started Forensic Medical Consultants in 2004 as an impartial private service in clinical forensic medicine. We had been working full-time as a Forensic Physician with Police and realised that there was a need for expert opinions that were independent, impartial and reflected contemporary medical practice. We wanted to develop a service provided by a practising medical specialist rather than a laboratory-based expert or someone with specialist interest in autopsies.
The challenge of presenting clinical findings in court suited us. Forensic medicine became a substantial part of our practice. Eventually, we moved into police headquarters and worked full-time in the field for almost a decade.
In 2010 we were approached by FBI to join their research team. We established the Centre for Criminal Profiling .
Clinical forensic medicine is the application of clinical knowledge to the law. An expert can take a clinical concept that is within his experience and explain it in plain language so that everyone can understand it. Clinical forensic medicine covers a range of medical topics including the examination of victims of crime, interpretation of injuries and the effects of drugs on human behaviour.
Many aspects of clinical medicine remain unaltered over time but there have been many technological changes that influence current practice.
Clinical Forensic Medicine differs from Forensic Pathology which is primarily concerned with understanding causes of death. Clinical Forensic Medicine is primarily concerned with the living: interpretation of injury including assault, sexual assault and child abuse. An important part of the discipline is understanding the impact of drugs and alcohol on human behaviour. We are sometimes asked about the fitness of a suspect for interview. A significant speciality is the provision of health care for people in the custody of police who have specific medical issues. There is some overlap with forensic pathology when considering drugs and medical conditions causing death.
We currently have an active clinical practice in addiction medicine, teach medical students and junior medical officers and conduct research.
Clinical Forensic Medicine is now a recognised speciality with specific training courses. The basics of interpretation of injury and understanding human behaviour have not changed. Many aspects of clinical medicine remain unaltered over time but there have been many technological changes that influence current practice.