FORENSIC CASES IN OBSTETRIC EMERGENCIES

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All events that are caused by the hand of human beingssuch as accidents, physical and sexual assaults, andfirearm and explosive injuries are qualified as forensiccases. In order to examine a medical intervention in termsof neglect and/or malpractice, it is primarily required toinvestigate whether or not it is legal. About 30% of thefiles that were submitted to the Institution of ForensicMedicine concerning malpractice are related to the fieldof gynecology and obstetrics. Most of these files are thecomplaints about pregnancy follow-ups and deliveries.The field of gynecology and obstetrics is associatedwith various forensic cases like pregnancy termination,mode of delivery, delivery after incest relationship, highriskpregnancy and postpartum hemorrhage, placentaanomalies, uterine evacuation and sterilization, traumasand maternal mortality etc. Physicians, midwives, andnurses are responsible for reporting these forensic cases.In forensic cases, it is certainly required to take a goodmedical history before examination. Two basic and threeadditional forms have been developed for forensic casesthat are admitted to the healthcare organizations. Onthe other hand, no separate report forms have beendeveloped for forensic cases that are rarely encounteredand that require advanced specialized knowledge. Theexamination of forensic cases requires specialty andexperience. As midwives and nurses usually becomeadapted to occupational cases during education and worklife, they may fail to show the required care for forensiccases due to the lack of knowledge. Considering the factthat a great majority of forensic cases occur in the field ofgynecology and obstetrics; it is recommended for healthprofessional to develop and update their knowledge andskills concerning forensic cases by attending relevantseminars/congresses.

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Emergency , forensic case , delivery , obstetrics

Kocatepe Medical Journal

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Kocatepe Medical Journal