Understanding Forensic Medicine and Toxicology: The Field and Its Significance

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Understanding Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
The Field and Its Significance
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Forensic Medicine subject deals with the
medico-legal aspects of the medical science. This
branch of science is further segregated into
subspecialties forensic psychiatry and forensic
toxicology, forensic pathology, forensic
dentistry, and forensic radiology. For
examinations related to living individuals, for
example, cases of sexual offenses, age
determination, or certification wounds, there is
clinical forensic medicine. For the examination
of dead individuals that deals with autopsy
findings, there is forensic pathology.
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An autopsy is the most common forensic procedure.
Identification of the cause that resulted in
injury or death, the search of bodily residuals
at a crime scene, determining inheritance,
matters of industrial and environmental
poisoning, etc. are some of the other premises of
forensics.  Forensic Medicine and Toxicology for
UnderGrads consist of different chapters and
medical examinations dedicated to varied types of
death, sexual offenses including assault, the
determination of the cause that resulted in death
as well as the actual time of death, and the
collection, preservation, and examination of
specimens. Some of the common causes or forms of
death, as elaborated in a forensic medicine
lecture, are drowning, homicide, suicide, traffic
accidents, accidental deaths due to falls or
fatal injuries, snake biting, poisoning, etc.
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Scope and Significance of Forensic Medicine and
Toxicology Forensic medicine and toxicology
cover all known forms of crime committed against
humans and animals. Hundreds of court cases need
one or other form of medical evidence as well as
medical opinions, all of which are provided by
the board of forensic experts. The book by Gautam
Biswas on forensic medicine discusses in detail
hundreds of case studies to enrich an MBBS
aspirants knowledge of common and exceptional
cases of forensic examination. An accurate
medical examination helps deliver justice to
those who deserve it. This branch of science
meets the obligations and needs of the court of
law. 
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• The book Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by
  Gautam Biswas outlines the roles and
  responsibilities of a forensic expert
• Collection of evidence and examination of the
  same.
• Apprehend a crime scene and interpret
  observations.
• Investigate medico-legal issues by adopting
  modern examination techniques.
• Reconstruct events based on the observation of
  facts.
• Assist the medical officer of the concerned
  investigating agency in understanding and
  interpreting evidence and facts.

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• Present medical findings in court in person or
  assist the investigating officer in presenting
  the information.
• Make an appearance as an expert witness whenever
  required. Doctors are also involved in cases
  where evidence has been disposed of.
• Establish the cause of death, in cases where
  there is a sudden death.
• If the forensic doctor was treating the patient
  before his/her death or injury, or if the doctor
  has witnessed something important, the doctor can
  be summoned by the court.

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How to Study Forensic Medicine in
MBBS? Following a good textbook is extremely
essential. A good book like the Gautam Biswas
forensic medicine5th Edition concisely defines
the learning objectives and contains important
topics, practice questions, a range of must-know
and good-to-know topics, and case studies. While
proceeding with concepts of forensic medicine and
toxicology, an MBBS student must pursue these 3
practices 1.      Making notes Notes simplify
the learning process. Handmade notes help with
quick revisions, remembering important facts,
correlating concepts, and facts, learning complex
processes, etc.
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 The Gautam Biswas forensic medicine latest
edition has important information in bullet
points, highlighted, and explained using relevant
information. Notes are excellent for revising
concepts, as it takes less time to revise
important information. 2.      Learning from
case demonstrations Forensic medicine and
toxicology for undergraduates require a great
deal of practical knowledge and experience
handling diverse and complex cases. Practical
demo classes provide the MBBS aspirants with the
desired level of exposure as the faculty shares
the practical techniques of autopsy examination
and the rest, thereby sharing the tips and tricks
of forensic procedures.
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3.      Practice assessment questions An MBBS
student must practice the assessment questions
that are given in the middle of chapters, and
also those that are given at the end of each
chapter or lesson or access MCQs by subscribing
to a good online FMT course. Practicing questions
helps a student recall information faster, get
more clarity on concepts, and identify learning
gaps. 
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