NCJ Number
57551
Journal
FORENSIC SCIENCE Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (JULY/AUGUST 1977) Pages: 19-22
Editor(s)
J VOIGT
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
FINLAND IS ONE OF THE COUNTRIES IN WHICH UNIVERSITY AND GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS OF FORENSIC MEDICINE WORK SIDE BY SIDE. THE UNIVERSITIES PROVIDE SPECIALIZED SERVICE; THE GOVERNMENT HANDLES ROUTINE AUTOPSIES.
Abstract
FINLAND IS DIVIDED INTO TWELVE 'PROVINCES' AND IN EACH THERE IS A FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST WHO PERFORMS MEDICOLEGAL AUTOPSIES IN HIS AREA. THE WORKLOAD VARIES FROM ABOUT 200 TO 900 CASES ANNUALLY, AND IN THE AREA SURROUNDING HELSINKI A SECOND PATHOLOGIST IS NECESSARY. THREE UNIVERSITIES HAVE DEPARTMENTS OF FORENSIC MEDICINE: HELSINKI, TURKU, AND OULU. THESE DEPARTMENTS PROVIDE AN AUTOPSY SERVICE AND DO CLINICAL PATHOLOGY EXAMINATIONS (ALCOHOL ANALYSIS FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, EXAMINATIONS IN CASES OF DRUNKENNESS, SEXUAL OFFENSES, ANTHROPOLOGICAL EXAMINATION IN CASES OF DISPUTED PATERNITY, ETC.). THE FORENSIC MEDICINE STAFF ALSO PROVIDES A TOXICOLOGY SERVICE, BUT SEROLOGY, FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY, AND COMPENSATION AND INSURANCE MEDICINE ARE HANDLED BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS. ALL MEDICAL STUDENTS MUST TAKE 46 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION IN LEGAL MEDICINE AND PARTICIPATE IN FIVE MEDICOLEGAL AUTOPSIES UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A TEACHER POSTGRADUATE SEMINARS AND AN 'APPRENTICE SYSTEM' ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. THERE IS AN EXAMINATION FOR SPECIALISTS IN LEGAL MEDICINE, WHICH IS SUPERVISED BY THE MEDICOLEGAL BUREAU OF THE CENTRAL MEDICAL BOARD. WITHOUT THIS CERTIFICATION A DOCTOR CANNOT CONDUCT MEDICOLEGAL AUTOPSIES OR PERFORM OTHER INDEPENDENT WORK IN CRIMINAL CASES, ALTHOUGH ANY PHYSICIAN CAN OFFER MEDICAL EVIDENCE IN COURT. ABOUT 15 PERCENT OF DEATHS REQUIRE MEDICOLEGAL EXAMINATION AND 96 PERCENT OF THESE RECEIVE A FULL AUTOPSY. (GLR)