Techniques and Applications in Forensic Medicine: From Clinical to Pathology
A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 874
Editor
Interests: forensic toxicology; forensic pathology; organ damage, drug toxicity forensic biomarkers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Forensic medicine is a multidisciplinary field that applies medical knowledge to legal investigations, bridging clinical practice and pathological examination. It plays a crucial role in both living individuals (clinical forensic medicine) and deceased persons (forensic pathology), supporting the justice system through scientific analysis and expert interpretation. Within the scope of Diagnostics, this Special Issue focuses on the diagnostic methodologies and technological innovations that underpin forensic assessments, emphasizing their accuracy, reliability, and evidentiary value.
In clinical forensic medicine, physicians evaluate victims and suspects in cases involving assault, sexual violence, domestic abuse, child maltreatment, intoxication, and other forms of trauma. Key diagnostic techniques include detailed physical examinations, injury documentation through standardized photography, collection of biological samples for genetic and toxicological analysis, and age estimation. The precision of these diagnostic tools, coupled with proper evidence handling and chain of custody, is essential to ensure their admissibility and impact in court.
Forensic pathology focuses on determining the cause, manner, and time of death. The primary diagnostic technique is the medico-legal autopsy, which involves external and internal examination of the body. This is increasingly augmented by complementary diagnostic methods such as histopathology, toxicology, advanced radiology (including post-mortem computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging), forensic anthropology, and molecular biology techniques like DNA analysis and proteomics. These tools not only help identify victims and reconstruct events but also enhance the diagnostic accuracy in clarifying suspicious or unexplained deaths.
Advances in technology have significantly improved the accuracy and reliability of forensic investigations. Innovations in imaging, digital documentation, genetic profiling, and minimally invasive sampling techniques are transforming both clinical assessments and post-mortem analyses, paving the way for more objective and evidence-based forensic diagnoses.
Overall, forensic medicine serves as a critical interface between medicine and law, ensuring that medical findings are accurately interpreted and effectively applied within judicial processes. This Special Issue invites contributions that explore cutting-edge diagnostic techniques and their applications in forensic medicine, with the aim of advancing the field's scientific foundation and practical utility.
Prof. Dr. Angelo Montana
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- forensic medicine
- clinical forensic medicine
- forensic pathology
- autopsy
- DNA analysis
- trauma
- forensic imaging
- post-mortem radiology
- toxicology
- cause of death
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