MEDICAL SCIENTIFIC METHODS: FORENSIC MEDICINE
MEDICINE AND THE LAW
(1038563)
(5 credits)
Module Convenors
·
Professor Stefano Ferracuti: [stefano.ferracuti@uniroma1.it]
Course Objectives
The course has the objective of developing the
particular conceptual framework applicable to most of the problems in the
field. As legal medicine has a
extraordinary wide range of factors that must be considered in the approach to
the field in order to rational and systematic analysis of the variables
involved in the evaluations. The course will be mainly focused on criminal
forensic psychopathology, including competence to stand trial and to give
informed consent, testimonial capacity, insanity defence, diminished capacity,
sentencing considerations, social dangerousness, release of persons acquitted
for insanity, and civil forensic psychopathology, including legal legislation
of psychiatry, including involuntary
commitment, right to treatment and to refuse treatment, professional liability,
ethical guidelines, selective incapacitation.
Knowledge and understanding
Critical knowledge of the core subjects related to
the course, in both psychopathology and law, in a systematic perspective.
Knowledge and understanding of the main problems, forms of decision making, and
critical evaluation of the available data.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Ability to apply knowledge acquired during the
course in order to analyse and discuss standard cases in a consistent way,
considering the cross-examination possibility of evaluation of each case.
Making judgements
Improvement of the ability to understand and
critically assess the core subjects related to the course in both a clinical
and forensic perspective; ability to logically connect the different issues
examined in the course.
Communication skills
Improvement of the ability to describe and discuss,
in a clear and appropriate legal language, clinical cases.
Learning skills
Improvement of the ability to study in an
independent and critical way.
Course Structure
There will be 9 lectures taking place, each lasting 5
hours. At the end of each lesson a Q&A time is scheduled. An overview of
the content of these is outlined below, and these will aim to provide an
introduction to the subject matter. In addition to these, if requested, tutorials
may be organized on specific arguments.
Course Assessment**
The proposed research topics offer an opportunity
for further in-depth analysis of the subjects examined during the lecture. Students
will undergo one evaluation test and the end of the course (14th and
25th lectures). The two tests, which will take place in
telematic mode, may consist in the resolution of some multiple-choice questions,
as well as the writing of a short essay on the topics covered in previous
lessons, as well as a case study on forensic evaluation.
Reading List
Standard textbooks for this module include:
Handbook
of Forensic Medicine Edited by Burkhard Madea Institute of Forensic Medicine
University of Bonn Bonn, Germany Wiley
Optional
readingsfor this module include:
The
Routledge Handbook of Mental Health law, Ed BD Kelly and M Donnely, 2023
Lecture | Topics | Overview of topics | Indipendent work | Professors |
February 22 | Introduction to legal medicine and forensic psychopathology | Epistemological limits of the field. Definition of the area of Causal relationship (generality, causal sequence, causal criteriology). | Standard textbook | Stefano Ferracuti |
March 21
| Substance abuse and toxicology | Behavioral problems due to substance abuse and their management. New | The Psychonauts' World of Cognitive Enhancers. Napoletano F, Schifano F, Corkery JM, Guirguis A, The clinical challenges of synthetic cathinones. Schifano F, Napoletano F, Arillotta D, Zangani C,
| Prof. Stefano Ferracuti Prof. Alessandro |
April 4 | Medico legal aspects of death Biothical and legal aspects of the final phase of life | The crime scene. Biological and legal concepts of death. Verification Legal and bioethical aspects of the final phase of life | Scopetti M, Morena D, Padovano M, Manetti F, Di Assisted suicide in the care of mentally ill patients: the Lucio Frati P, Gulino M, Mancarella P, Cecchi R, Ferracuti S.J Forensic Leg
| Prof. Matteo Scopetti
Dr. Martina Padovano |
April 11 | Competence | Ethical aspects and clinical evaluation of informed consent How to evaluate competence in different clinical fields Methodology and instruments | Parmigiani G, Del Casale A, Mandarelli G, Barchielli B, Kotzalidis GD, Appelbaum PS. Clinical practice. Assessment of patients' competence to | Prof. Giovanna Parmigiani Prof. Stefano Ferracuti |
April 18 | Social Dangerousness and Management of persons with mental illness and | How do we manage the broad spectrum of persons who perform a crime and | Fazel S, Burghart M, Fanshawe T, Gil SD, Monahan J, Yu R. The Ferracuti S, Pucci D, Trobia F, Alessi MC, Rapinesi C, Kotzalidis GD, | Stefano Ferracuti |
May 2 | Forensic Pathology | Forensic pathology (injury from blunt force, major trauma, violent Crimes against life (murder, infanticide in conditions of material and | Standard textbook | Prof. Matteo Scopetti Dr. Martina Padovano |
May 9 | The Insanity Defence | Evaluation of the mental status of the person in relation to a crime | Borum R, Fulero SM. Empirical research on the insanity defense and Mendez MF. The neurobiology of moral behavior: review and | Prof. Giovanna Parmigiani Prof. Stefano |
May 15 | Social Assistance, Insurance and Civil and penal liability | Civil and criminal liability of the healthcare professional. Social | D'Errico S, Zanon M, Radaelli D, Padovano M,
| Prof. Matteo Scopetti Dr.Martina |
May 23 | Course evaluation |
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- Docente: Stefano Ferracuti