Comparison of forensic reports on the same forensic cases issued by the emergency department and forensic medicine polyclinic

Abstract

In this study, forensic traumatology reports prepared in the emergency department were compared with reports of the same cases prepared by the forensic medicine polyclinic. The aim was to determine the extent of differences, discuss their causes and consequences, and provide solutions and recommendations. Retrospective analysis was conducted by comparing the demographic data, types of incidents, injury sites, and the forensic-medical evaluation results in the forensic reports prepared by emergency departments with those prepared by the forensic medicine policlinic for the same incidents. Of the 383 reports issued by the emergency department stating that the injuries were not of a nature that could be resolved with a simple medical intervention, reports of the same cases by the forensic medicine outpatient clinic revealed that 216 (56.4%) of these cases were, in fact, of a nature that could be resolved with a simple medical intervention. In 108 reports issued by the emergency department stating that injuries were life-threatening, 74 (68.5%) were assessed as non-life-threatening by the forensic medicine policlinic. It was observed that more errors were made in evaluations of intoxication and polytrauma cases conducted in the emergency department. It has been acknowledged that the majority of forensic reports prepared in emergency departments pose problems for the proper implementation of the legal process. To reduce or even eliminate errors and deficiencies in forensic reports, we believe that it is important to increase both the duration and quality of pre-graduate forensic medical education, as well as provide postgraduate training focused on responsibilities in forensic cases and medico-legal evaluation in trauma cases, particularly for emergency department physicians who bear a heavy burden of forensic report preparation.

Keywords

• Emergency department
• Forensic report
• Forensic medicine
• Forensic case

References

1. Guler H, Kaya A. Preparation of forensic reports in trauma cases. In: Yavuz MS, editör. Adli Raporlar. Ankara: Turkiye Klinikleri; 2022, p. 5-13.
2. Kar H, Dokgoz H. Adli rapor. In: Dokgoz H, editör. Adli Tıp&Adli Bilimler. Ankara: Akademisyen Kitabevi; 2019, p. 359-378.
3. Akin U, Aydin F. Report definition, types of report, forensic report and forensic report preparation in emergency service. In: Yavuz MS, editör. Adli Raporlar. Ankara: Turkiye Klinikleri; 2022, p. 1-4.
4. Yavuz MS, Aydin S. Forensic cases and reports in primary health care. Turk Aile Hek Derg 2004;8(1):30-33.
5. Turla A, Aydin B, Sataloğlu N. Acil serviste düzenlenen adli raporlardaki hata ve eksiklikler [Mistakes and omissions in judicial reports prepared in emergency services]. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2009 Mar;15(2):180-4. Turkish.
6. Serinken M, Türkçüer I, Acar K, Ozen M. Acil servis hekimleri tarafından düzenlenen adli raporların eksiklik ve yanlışlıklar yönünden değerlendirilmesi [Evaluation of medicolegal reports written by physicians in the emergency unit with regard to deficiencies and mistakes]. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2011 Jan;17(1):23-8. Turkish. doi: 10.5505/tjtes.2011.78989.
7. Zeyfeoğlu Y, Uluçay T, Yavuz MS, Aşirdizer M. Adli tibbi uygulamalarda hatali tanimlama, yanliş karar: Olgu sunumu [Incorrect identification in forensic medicine (wrong conclusion): a case report]. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2010 Mar;16(2):185-8. Turkish.
8. Cetin Erdogan Z, Teyin A, Birben B, Cetin B, Sahiner G, Hamamci M. Evaluation of judical reports prepared in the emergency department. Bozok Med J 2018;8(4):34-40.

9. Gunaydin IG, Demirci S, Dogan KH, Aynaci Y. The approach of medical emergency service physicians working in Konya to forensic reports: a survey study. Journal of Forensic Medicine 2005;19(2):26-32.
10. Turla A, Dundar C. The forensic medicine education of the practitioners who ıssue forensic reports in Samsun province and the reflection of this education on the reports. OMU Tip Dergisi 2003;(20)3:119-124.
11. Yavuz Y, Yurumez Y, Kuçuker H, Demirel R, Ikizceli I, Akdur O. The evaluation of knowledge and attitude of emergency physicians in writing forensic reports. Turk J Emerg Med 2004;4(2):64–67.
12. Turkish Penal Code dated 26.09.2004 and numbered 5237. [Internet]. [cited 2023 Aug 15] Available from: https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuatmetin/1.5.5237.pdf
13. Guide to Evaluation of Injury Crimes Defined in the Turkish Penal Code in terms of Forensic Medicine. Forensic Medicine Specialists Association-Council of Forensic Medicine-Forensic Medicine Association. Update Editors;
14. Balci Y, Colak B, Gurpinar K, Anolay NN. [Internet]. 2019 [update 2019 June; cited 2023 Aug 15] Available from: https://www.atk.gov.tr/tckyaralama24-06-19.pdf
15. Hakkoymaz H, Keten HS, Artuc S, Ucer H, Bozkurt S, Okumus M, et al. Evaluation of Medico-Legal Reports in Respect of the Turkish Penal Code. J Kartal TR 2014;25(3):177-180.
16. Korkmaz T, Kahramansoy N, Erkol Z, Saricil F, Kılıc A. Evaluation of the Forensic Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department and Legal Reports. The Medical Bulletin of Haseki 2012;50:14-20.
17. Kucuker H. Evaluation of nonlethal traumatic forensic cases and reports who admitted to emergency services. Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine 2003;3(4):19-23.
18. Coltu MA, Durak D, Fedakar R. Evaluation of forensic report forms prepared in Uludağ University Medical Faculty Emergency Service. The Bulletin of Legal Medicine 2000;5:36-40.
19. Terece C, Kocak AO, Soğukpınar VO, Gürpınar K, Aslıyüksek H. Evaluation of forensic reports issued in emergency departments and comparison with reports issued by the Council of Forensic Medicine. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2022 Jan;28(2):140-146. doi: 10.14744/tjtes.2020.18013. PMID: 35099029; PMCID: PMC10443141.