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Walter Sisulu University

Faculty of Health sciences Department of Forensic Medicine
Core learning in 6-years Curriculum: Forensic Medicine for MB.ChB 3rd & 4th year. The aim of this course is to develop a Core Doctor, who could serve the forensic needs of the community, soon after qualifying. Violence and trauma have reached almost epidemic proportions in South Africa. The concept of the Core Doctor should therefore include Clinical Forensic Medicine, which specifically require for practical teaching of rape and child abuse investigations. The Core Doctor should have a basic knowledge of Forensic Pathology (covered in MBChB III), Clinical Forensic Medicine and Medical Ethics related to medical practice. The course is innovative directed to problem solving and self-directed learning. The basic knowledge required of a Core Doctor should be learned during 47 hours of clinical sessions including five 2-hour practical sessions as recommended by the National Forensic academic Subcommittee (Academic sub-committee meeting in Pretoria in June 2003). The outline of the course is set out below. It will be covered by integrated case studies. It will be a real scenario, which a doctor faces in day- to- day practice. The purpose of clinical sessions is to motivate students to understand the topics.

Contents for Expert Resource Sessions:

I. Clinical Forensic Medicine and Pathology 1. Death and death certification 2. Changes after death (post-mortem changes) so called thanatology. 3. Medico-legal aspects of sudden, unexpected, natural deaths 4. Asphyxial deaths e.g. hanging, strangulation etc. 5. Medico legal aspects of wounds 6. Trauma: abrasion, contusion, lacerations, incised wounds, stab wounds, and gunshot injuries. 7. Injuries in Motor vehicle accidents 8. Head injuries 9. Blunt trauma abdomen 10. Medico legal aspects of pregnancy 11. Abortion 12. Examination of a victim of sexual assault, completion of J88 form 13. Death due to fire (Burns) 14. Death due to Electrocution and lightning. 15. Child abuse including non-accidental injury syndrome 16. Cot death (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) 17. Infanticide 18. Death due to surgical mishaps including anesthetic and/or procedure related deaths. Section 48 Deaths - Health Professions Amendment Act (Act 29/2007),

II. Medical Ethics and Law 1. Code of ethics 2. Duties of Health Professional Council of South Africa 3. Privileges of Medical Practitioner 4. Medical Consent 5. Professional Misconduct 6. Medical negligence 7. Euthanasia 8. Ethics related with HIV, confidentiality, discrimination, stigmatization and HIV testing including counseling etc. 9. Ethics related with place of work and health: Health and safety (OSH) Act, and compensation for injury and disease (COID) Act. 10. The Inquests Act (58 of 1959) Section 2 and 3. 11.Definition of Unnatural Death 12. Criminal Procedure Act (Act 51 of 1977). Section 37 13. Births and Deaths Registration Act (51 of 1992). Section 9, 14, 15, 17, 18, 22, 53 (4), 39, 42 14. National Road traffic Act (93 of 1996) 15. National Health Laboratory Service Act (37 of 2000). 16. Aged persons amendment act (100 of 1998) 17. Mental Health Act (18 of 1973). 10. Human Tissue Act (65 of 1983) 11. National Health Act. 12. Child Care Act (74 of 1983) III. Forensic Toxicology: 1. General principles of Toxicology 2. Medico legal aspects of acute alcoholic intoxication. 3. Acute toxicity due to carbon monoxide (poisoning). 4. Acute toxicity due to Paracetamol (poisoning) 5. Agriculture related poisons including insecticide, and herbicides. 6. Drug addiction and potential drugs causing addiction. 7. Industrial poisons e.g. Lead, Mercury etc. 8. Noxious, plants animals and marine creatures. The programme is intensive. Learning forensic medicine will be through interactive discussion among the students and the course coordinator. The emphasis is on case at Sinawe Centre, Mortuary & the Casualty. Please come up with forensic problems for discussion, so that you will acquire skill and knowledge. Absenteeism is not acceptable and will be reported to HPE office. In case of an illness, a sick note should be produced. Marks will be allocated for attendance.

3 Examination Marks will be distributed as follows: Internal assessment carries 60% and final examination is of 40% marks. Internal assessment will be divided into three sections: a research assignment (20%), OSCE (20%) and written MEQ (10%). Ten percent marks in MEQ, will taken from 3rd year final marks. The assignment is a research project. This should be comprehensive and realistic. Any topic is accepted from course contents. It is compulsory. Final examination will be carried out in the month of October. Final examination divided into two components. Modified Essay Questions (IPA I i.e. MEQ) (30%) marks and Individualized Process assessment (IPA II) (10%). The IPA consists of forensic pathology, medical ethics and clinical forensic medicine including basic knowledge of relevant Act. Some multiple choice questions could be included in final examination.