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The elective provides students with an in-depth understanding of the systems for medical-legal investigation. The role of forensic pathology in the context of medical-legal investigation will be carefully explored. Student learning activities and experiences may include participation in and/or attendance at such activities as Coroner's inquests, crime scene and laboratory investigations, post-mortem examinations, criminal trial proceedings, and off-site visits to facilities that support medical-legal investigations (e.g. polygraph testing facilities, toxicology laboratories), or facilities where investigations may occur (e.g. investigations of death in prisons, jails, mental health facilities).

During the course of the elective, students also will be responsible for completing various assigned readings focusing on topics in forensic pathology, maintaining a daily record of activities, and preparing a one-hour formal oral presentation, utilizing photographs, graphics, and an annotated bibliography.

Describe the various needs for a medical-legal investigative system, explaining both the Coroner's system and the Medical Examiner's system.
Recognize that medical-legal investigation is a team effort, involving a variety of individuals; explain the role of and interactions between uniformed police officers, police investigators (including homicide squad), crime scene investigators and technologists, Coroner/Medical Examiner, crime laboratory personnel, forensic pathology, and other forensic specialists (e.g., toxicologists, dentists, polygraphers).
Characterize the more frequently encountered causes of death that trigger medical-legal investigation.
Evaluate case studies demonstrating use of medical-legal investigation to determine cause of death, mechanisms of death, and manner of death.
Provide an overview of forensic autopsy procedures with emphasis on the significant differences between medical autopsy and forensic post-mortem examination.
Detail medical-legal investigative procedures used to identify injury or death caused by the following: firearms or explosives; blunt or sharp trauma; strangulation; electricity; heat or cold; pedestrian or vehicular accidents; drowning; industrial accidents; poisoning; positional asphyxia; alcohol or drug abuse; mass disasters.
Delineate medical-legal investigative procedures utilized in cases involved in childhood death, with emphasis on SIDS, infanticide, and child abuse.
Identify wounds caused by various instruments; evidence familiarity with tool mark identification methodologies.
Demonstrate familiarity with internal, external, and wound ballistics.
Describe the role of the forensic pathologist in criminal trial proceedings, with emphasis in evidentiary and testimonial considerations.

Evaluation will consist of daily review of student participation in didactic and experiential learning activities, oral assessment of assigned forensic pathology readings, student participation in completed forensic cases, and assessment of a formal oral presentation on a selected topic in forensic pathology. Students also will maintain and submit a written record of daily activities during the elective.

Completion of all third-year clerkships
Enrollment in M.D./J.D. Dual Degree Program

Faculty Responsible for Elective	Travis Hindman, M.D.
Telephone	217.787.3235
Additional Faculty	Theodore R. LeBlang, J.D. tleblang@siumed.edu
Enrollment Maximum number of students	5 per experience
Schedule	2-4 weeks; Full-time
Credit Hours	2-4 non-clinical credits awarded

MD/JD Electives
Medical Humanities Electives