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History & Society
forensic medicine
forensic sciences
forensic anthropologist
Category:
History & Society
- Related Topics:
- health law
- autopsy
- forensic anthropology
- forensic psychology
- forensic dentistry
forensic medicine, the science that deals with the application of medical knowledge to legal questions. The use of medical testimony in law cases predates by more than 1,000 years the first systematic presentation of the subject by the Italian Fortunatus Fidelis in 1598. Forensic medicine was recognized as a specialty early in the 19th century. The primary tool of forensic medicine has always been the autopsy. Frequently used for identification of the dead, autopsies may also be conducted to determine the cause of death. In cases of death caused by a weapon, for example, the forensic pathologist—by examining the wound—can ...(100 of 235 words)