FORENSIC MEDICINE:The word "forensic" is derived from the Latin word forensis: of or belonging to the forum.

Scope of forensic medicine:The forensic sciences apply specialized scientific or technical knowledge to questions regarding civil or criminal law, especially in court proceedings, while forensic medicine is the science of applying medical knowledge to legal questions. Forensic investigations focus on a variety of issues, such as aging and determining the gender of skeletal remains and assessing injuries, as well as issues surrounding medical malpractice, product liability, smuggling, virginity and wrongful death.Forensic medicine is also used in finger printing

Origins of forensic medicine:The ancient Jews also addressed medicolegal issues, and there is evidence that the ancient Greeks, Romans and East Indians developed legal standards regarding the practice of medicine as well. These early cultures recognized the need for legal controls to govern the practice and responsibilities of medical professionals. This was particularly true regarding the use of drugs or poisons and in the investigations of deaths For example, law 215 defines the payment due to a successful surgeon: "If a physician make a large incision with an operating knife and cure it, or if he open a tumor (over the eye) with an operating knife, and saves the eye, he shall receive ten shekels in money." However, in the event that the surgeon is unsuccessful, severe penalties result. As law 218 states, "If a physician make a large incision with the operating knife, and kill him, or open a tumor with the operating knife, and cut out the eye, his hands shall be cut off."

Subdivisions:
Forensic accounting is the study and interpretation of accounting evidence interpretation of aerial photographic evidence is the study and

is the application of physical anthropology in a legal setting, usually for the recovery and identification of skeletonized human remains. is the application of a combination of archaeological techniques and forensic science, typically in law enforcement. uses methods from astronomy to determine past celestial constellations for forensic purposes. is the study of plant life in order to gain information regarding possible crimes. is the study of detection and identification of illicit drugs, accelerants used in arson cases, explosive and gunshot residue.

concerns the development of algorithms and software to assist forensic examination. is the application of various sciences to answer questions relating to examination and comparison of biological evidence, trace evidence, impression evidence (such as fingerprints, footwear impressions, and tire tracks), controlled substances, ballistics, firearm and toolmark examination, and other evidence in criminal investigations. In typical circumstances evidence is processed in a crime lab. is the study of fingerprints.

is the application of proven scientific methods and techniques in order to recover data from electronic / digital media. Digital Forensic specialists work in the field as well as in the lab. Forensic document examination or questioned document examination answers questions about a disputed document using a variety of scientific processes and methods. Many examinations involve a comparison of the questioned document, or components of the document, with a set of known standards. The most common type of examination involves handwriting, whereby the examiner tries to address concerns about potential authorship. takes advantage of the uniqueness of an individual's DNA to answer forensic questions such as paternity/maternity testing and placing a suspect at a crime scene, e.g. in a rape investigation. is the scientific examination and analysis of structures and products relating to their failure or cause of damage. deals with the examination of insects in, on and around human remains to assist in determination of time or location of death. It is also possible to determine if the body was moved after death. soils, minerals and petroleum. deals with trace evidence in the form of

is the analysis of evidence collected from crime scenes in or around fresh-water sources. Examination of biological organisms, in particular diatoms, can be useful in connecting suspects with victims. system that requires linguistic expertise. deals with issues in the legal is a site-specific analysis of past

weather conditions for a point of loss. is the study of the uniqueness of dentition, better known as the study of teeth. is the study of glasses and other eye wear relating to crime scenes and criminal investigations is a field in which the principles of medicine and pathology are applied to determine a cause of death or injury in the context of a legal inquiry. is the study of the mind of an individual, using forensic methods. Usually it determines the circumstances behind a criminal's behavior. is the study of techniques to distinguish the seismic signals generated by underground nuclear explosions from those generated by earthquakes. is the study of the body fluids.[6] is the study of the effect of drugs

and poisons on/in the human body.

is the scientific examination, comparison and evaluation of video in legal matters. is the scientific examination and evaluation of evidence found in mobile phones, e.g. Call History and Deleted SMS, and includes SIM Card Forensics analysis is the analysis and comparison of trace evidence including glass, paint, fibres and hair. is an application of the study of feet footprint or footwear and their traces to analyze scene of crime and to establish personal identity in forensic examinations.Similarly fingerprint is also used.

Forensic radiology:

Forensic radiology often is used to document abnormalities during an autopsy. However, forensic radiologic examination also is used on the living, particularly in cases of suspected child, elder or spouse abuse and in patients with gunshot wounds. This article provides an overview of the history of forensic medicine and forensic radiology and details the use of forensic science in the investigation of death, with emphasis on the radiologic appearance of gunshot wounds. Forensic radiology is a relatively recent subspecialty of forensic medicine. It focuses on the performance, interpretation and reporting of radiologic examinations and procedures involved with the courts or the law. . Forensic radiology has relied almost exclusively on radiography. Newer imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT), are being incorporated gradually into the practice of forensic radiology. However, problems related to cost and accessibility must be resolved before these techniques can become part of the routine practice of forensic radiology.