84496 - Legal and Forensic Medicine

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Docente: Susi Pelotti
  • Credits: 2
  • SSD: MED/43
  • Language: English
  • Moduli: Susi Pelotti (Modulo 1) Paolo Fais (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Medicine and Surgery (cod. 9210)

Learning outcomes

Summarize the legal aspects of confidentiality, informed consent, and medical liability towards patients. Comply with the obligations imposed by law with regard to the preparation of certificates and medical reports, and the mandatory disclosure of information to competent authorities for major crimes of medico-legal interest. Describe the basic principles of forensic traumatology, and thanatology. Compare and contrast the principles of legal and forensic medicine in different countries. Discuss legal issues related to social insurance, work-related injuries and disability.

Course contents

The medico-legal field and the evaluation of individual damage.

The principal crimes of medico-legal interest: crimes against life, health,maternity, gender violence.

The evaluation of penal and civil responsability of health professionals: analysis of the law evolution.

The confidentiality in the patient-doctor relationship

The informed consent and the informed choice by shared decision making

The relationship with Judicial Authorities

Forensic pathology, genetics and toxicology.

Disability and social insurances

Readings/Bibliography

Scientific articles on PubMed.

Law text and international debate documents on the issues.

Teaching methods

Lessons and analysi of casework or sentences.

Group meeting

Assessment methods

Written test: questions with multiple choice: 32 questions.

Correct answers of 32: 30 cum laude

Correct answer of 30 questions: 30.

Each answer is worth one point

Teaching tools

Slides, video

Office hours

See the website of Susi Pelotti

See the website of Paolo Fais