Test: Introduction and Evolution - NEET PG MCQ

Forensic medicine applies medical and paramedical scientific knowledge to assist in civil and criminal law, contributing to the administration of justice.

The word "forensic" comes from the Latin term "forensis," meaning related to the forum, where legal matters were discussed in ancient Rome.

Forensic medicine was once called Medical Jurisprudence, derived from "juris" (law) and "prudentia" (knowledge).

In ancient India, the Panchayat was a group of village elders tasked with resolving disputes, similar to the forum in ancient Rome.

The term "Medical Police" referred to early forensic medicine roles that included knowledge of public health, hygiene, industrial health, and disease epidemics.

Social medicine deals with health issues related to work, including diseases, injuries, and compensation through insurance.

Forensic medicine applies medical knowledge to legal issues, while forensic science focuses on precise physical, chemical, and biological measurements, often by non-medical scientists.

Forensic pathology involves conducting autopsies to identify pathological changes in the body due to aging, diseases, and injuries.

Practitioners of clinical forensic medicine, dealing with living individuals needing medicolegal opinions, are often called police surgeons, casualty surgeons, or forensic medical examiners.

The formal academic recognition of forensic medicine as a distinct discipline with specific training programs is relatively recent, despite its long history of application in legal contexts.