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Healthcare
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Forensic Science and Legal Medicine: A Multidisciplinary Puzzle 2.0
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Forensic Science and Legal Medicine: A Multidisciplinary Puzzle 2.0

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Forensic Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 7167

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Francesco Sessa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy
Interests: genetics and molecular biology; forensic and biological sciences; forensic genetics; genomic physiology; aging and genetics; pharmacology; toxicology; health professions; translational pharmacology; biochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The discipline of forensic science is remarkably complex and includes methodologies ranging from DNA analysis to chemical composition and pattern recognition. Many forensic practices were developed under the auspices of law enforcement and vetted primarily by the legal system rather than being subjected to scientific scrutiny and empirical testing. Furthermore, the recent experience of the COVID-19 pandemic suggests a pivotal role of forensic autopsy in gathering information about unknown diseases: indeed, only a full autopsy can investigate the potential mechanisms of damage to organs or systems not readily accessible to biopsies, such as the central nervous system or cardiovascular system, leading to appropriate healthcare strategies that are useful in the control of the disease. Another important perspective that underlines the importance of forensic science is related to the development of vaccine candidates and new therapies for the prevention and treatment of different diseases, with certain benefits for healthcare.

Furthermore, legal medicine plays a pivotal role in risk management. In healthcare, the term “risk management” refers to all processes employed to detect, monitor, assess, mitigate, and prevent risks in healthcare facilities and safeguard patient safety. Considering the importance of this issue, a further aim of this Special Issue is to assess the role and progress of research and training in the field of risk management.

Given the importance of the topic, the journal Healthcare is launching the second edition of a Special Issue entitled “Forensic Science and Legal Medicine: A Multidisciplinary Puzzle 2.0” with the aim of gathering accurate and up-to-date scientific information on all aspects of this theme, collecting original investigations, case series and case reports, and reviews in all forensic and medico-legal branches. This Special Issue aims to provide an overview of recent technological advances in all fields of the forensic and medico-legal sciences, such as forensic pathology, anthropology, criminalistics, digital and multimedia sciences, engineering and applied sciences, pathology/biology, psychiatry and behavioral science, jurisprudence, odontology, risk management, questioned documents, and toxicology.

Similar submissions dealing with forensic aspects of other sciences and the social sciences are also welcome, as are submissions dealing with scientifically sound emerging science disciplines.

Dr. Francesco Sessa
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forensics sciences
  • autopsy
  • forensic pathology
  • forensic toxicology
  • forensic genetics and genomics
  • postmortem investigation
  • technology and forensics
  • genomic application in forensic sciences
  • risk management
  • legal medicine

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2308 KiB  
Article
Colorectal Cancer: 35 Cases in Asbestos-Exposed Workers
by Antonietta Porzio, Alessandro Feola, Giuseppe Parisi, Angelo Lauro and Carlo Pietro Campobasso
Healthcare 2023, 11(23), 3077; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11233077 - 30 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1347
Abstract
Background: Asbestos is considered one of the major global work-related carcinogens. Some studies suggest a potential causal relationship between asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the role of asbestos in CRC carcinogenesis is still controversial. Methods: 35 claims of occupational CRC among [...] Read more.
Background: Asbestos is considered one of the major global work-related carcinogens. Some studies suggest a potential causal relationship between asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the role of asbestos in CRC carcinogenesis is still controversial. Methods: 35 claims of occupational CRC among asbestos-exposed workers were reviewed. All claims were rejected by the Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents (INAIL) due to the “lack of scientific evidence in the causality” between asbestos exposure and CRC; causality was finally assessed in civil trials. All cases were categorized by age, gender, industry type, task, exposure and latency periods, anatomical location, and histopathological characteristics of CRC and concomitant respiratory diseases. Results: Most workers were males aged 60 years or more and employed in occupational activities with extensive use of asbestos for over 20 years. In 31 out of 35 cases, CRC was diagnosed over 39 years after employment. Right-sided colic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in nine cases; rectum was involved in eight cases. Respiratory comorbidities were observed in 22 workers. Conclusions: Our study provides some interesting points in the assessment of the causal relationship between asbestos exposure and CRC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Science and Legal Medicine: A Multidisciplinary Puzzle 2.0)
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Review

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21 pages, 1975 KiB  
Review
Clinical Anatomy and Medical Malpractice—A Narrative Review with Methodological Implications
by Andrea Porzionato, Veronica Macchi, Carla Stecco, Rafael Boscolo-Berto, Marios Loukas, Ronald Shane Tubbs and Raffaele De Caro
Healthcare 2022, 10(10), 1915; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10101915 - 30 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2295
Abstract
Anatomical issues are intrinsically included in medico-legal methodology, however, higher awareness would be needed about the relevance of anatomy in addressing medico–legal questions in clinical/surgical contexts. Forensic Clinical Anatomy has been defined as “the practical application of Clinical Anatomy to the ascertainment and [...] Read more.
Anatomical issues are intrinsically included in medico-legal methodology, however, higher awareness would be needed about the relevance of anatomy in addressing medico–legal questions in clinical/surgical contexts. Forensic Clinical Anatomy has been defined as “the practical application of Clinical Anatomy to the ascertainment and evaluation of medico-legal problems”. The so-called individual anatomy (normal anatomy, anatomical variations, or anatomical modifications due to development, aging, para-physiological conditions, diseases, or surgery) may acquire specific relevance in medico–legal ascertainment and evaluation of cases of supposed medical malpractice. Here, we reviewed the literature on the relationships between anatomy, clinics/surgery, and legal medicine. Some methodological considerations were also proposed concerning the following issues: (1) relevant aspects of individual anatomy may arise from the application of methods of ascertainment, and they may be furtherly ascertained through specific anatomical methodology; (2) data about individual anatomy may help in the objective application of the criteria of evaluation (physio–pathological pathway, identification–evaluation of errors, causal value, damage estimation) and in final judgment about medical responsibility/liability. Awareness of the relevance of individual anatomy (risk of iatrogenic lesions, need for preoperative diagnostic procedures) should be one of the principles guiding the clinician; medico–legal analyses can also take advantage of its contribution in terms of ascertainment/evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Science and Legal Medicine: A Multidisciplinary Puzzle 2.0)
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Other

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16 pages, 733 KiB  
Systematic Review
Systematic Review of Penetrating Cardiac Injury by a Firearm: Forensic Implications
by Francesco Sessa, Giuseppe Cocimano, Massimiliano Esposito, Pietro Zuccarello, Edmondo Scoto, Pietro Mazzeo and Monica Salerno
Healthcare 2023, 11(2), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11020265 - 14 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2643
Abstract
Penetrating injuries of the heart, named penetrating cardiac injury (PCI), may cause hemorrhagic shock as well as cardiac tamponade, leading to death if not treated immediately. This systematic review aims to highlight the main aspects of penetrating cardiac injuries after firearm wounds. The [...] Read more.
Penetrating injuries of the heart, named penetrating cardiac injury (PCI), may cause hemorrhagic shock as well as cardiac tamponade, leading to death if not treated immediately. This systematic review aims to highlight the main aspects of penetrating cardiac injuries after firearm wounds. The cases of 39 subjects (age 37.05 + 15.4) were selected (6 fatal cases). Specifically, 4/39 cases involved subjects under 18 y.o.; analyzing the entrance wound, in 30/39 cases it was located in the anterior chest, 4/39 in the posterior chest, 3/39 in the shoulder/axilla area, 1/39 in the neck, and 1/39 in the pelvis (gluteus). The exit wound was found in only 3/39 cases. Several factors may influence the prognosis: firstly, prompt intervention represents a crucial point, then considering the complications related to PCI, the most important are myocardial infarction, and projectile migration with embolization. The mortality rate is related to: (1) area and severity of the heart injury; (2) duration of transport and intervention; (3) contemporary lesion to other organ/s; (4) the quantity of blood lost; (5) and presence/absence of cardiac tamponade. Based on these findings, a correct approach in the management of PCI may be considered important from a forensic point of view, both as regards to medical liability and from the trial perspective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Science and Legal Medicine: A Multidisciplinary Puzzle 2.0)
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