chapter 3

Forensic Medicine

The interaction of therapeutic science with the law, involving the application of medical knowledge to legal issues.

Criminal Law

Legal regulations concerning offenses against public interest, property, or state security, punishable by fines, imprisonment, or execution.

Civil Law

Legal disputes between two individuals or parties, where the accused is referred to as the defendant and the party bringing the action is the plaintiff.

Adversarial System

A criminal legal system in Anglo-Saxon law where the burden of proof is on the defendant to demonstrate innocence.

Expert Witness

A specialist who assists the law by providing expert opinions and factual insights based on their profession.

Forensic Autopsy

An examination of a body to determine the cause and manner of death, especially in criminal cases.

Clinical Autopsy

An examination focused on internal organ findings to confirm clinical diagnosis and assess the appropriateness of therapy.

Post-Mortem Examination

The examination of a body after death, primarily for legal and medical reasons.

Hypersthenic

A body type characterized by being large and heavy, with a thick bony framework.

Antitius

Considered the first police surgeon and forensic pathologist, known for studying Julius Caesar's wounds.

Locard’s Exchange Principle

A principle stating that contact between two items results in an exchange of materials.

Galton's Fingerprint System

A method developed by Francis Galton for classifying fingerprints, which remains in use today.

DNA Typing

A modern scientific advancement for identifying individuals based on their unique DNA profiles.

William Marston

An inventor who developed a device to measure physiological indicators during questioning.

Edmund Locard

The founder of criminalistics and proponent of the exchange principle in forensic science.

Cesare Lombroso

A criminologist who utilized physiological readings in crime detection and is known as the father of criminology.

Carl Wilhelm Scheele

A chemist who developed the first successful test for detecting arsenic in corpses.

Mathieu Orfila

Regarded as the Father of Forensic Toxicology for his work in detecting arsenic poisoning.

Alphonse Bertillon

The Father of Criminal Identification, known for anthropometric measurements for personal identification.

Col. Calvin Goddard

Recognized as the 'Father of Ballistics' for developing systems to trace bullets to firearms.

Modern Forensic Techniques

Methods including chromatography, spectrometry, and electrophoresis used in forensic science for analysis.

Alec Jeffreys

A British geneticist who developed the first DNA profiling test, solving a crucial criminal case.