scholarly journals Ethical issues across different fields of forensic science

Author(s):  
Praveen Kumar Yadav
2008 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 238-242
Author(s):  
J Mennell ◽  
I C Shaw ◽  
S M Jickells

DNA is probably the most well-known example of forensic science in practice. The UK has the world's largest DNA database in terms of the percentage of the population covered, over four million people, representing 6% of the UK population and covering the majority of the active criminal population. This growth was enabled as a result of the DNA expansion programme and during 2006/2007 alone, I, 175 violent/sex crimes, 852 drugs cases and 7,892 domestic burglaries were linked to one or more individuals on the National DNA Database. However, public confidence in DNA and forensic science has been tested as a result of issues surrounding the growth of the national DNA database and cases such as the Omagh Bombing and Damilola Taylor, which has prompted important ethical issues and concerns to be raised. Despite these concerns, forensic science users and providers are under increasing pressure to build on the success of the DNA expansion programme to ensure that forensic science is used effectively across all crime types. Identifying and articulating a vision for forensic science should enable the impact of forensic science to be maximised, but will also require many areas to be addressed and evaluated. This needs to be done in terms of system drivers, technological drivers and societal drivers and in the context of these there is a need to paint the possible future forensic landscape and boundaries; clearly identifying what we are trying to achieve, what the priorities are and the extent to which we would like to shape the future rather than to merely respond to it.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (11) ◽  
pp. 97-102
Author(s):  
O.S. ZALIVOKHINA ◽  
◽  
O.S. KUCHIN ◽  

The article deals with ethical issues related to the process of informatization of forensic expert activity. In recent years in connection with the development of computer technology scientists and philosophers began to talk about new directions in the teaching of morality. Computer ethical and cyber-ethical topics are especially relevant both for forensic science and for forensic expertology, since these areas of science and practice are closely related to the use of information technology. The author analyzes the connection of modern teachings on morality with the methodology of forensic expert activity and the competence of an expert. Also through the prism of cyberethics and computer ethics, the article highlights the problems of expert responsibility, information assessment and Internet security. It is concluded that it is necessary to introduce the provisions of modern computer ethics into the structure of the ethics of a forensic expert.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Sánchez Gisbert ◽  
Marina Gisbert Grifo ◽  
Chirag C. Sheth

Abstract The main objective of this study is to analyse the background and knowledge of Spanish dentists and stomatologists registered in Alicante, Castellón and Valencia, the three provinces that make up the Valencian Community, with regard to forensic dentistry and the current Spanish health legislation and regulations, and to try to quantify the relationship between level of training, specialisation, work experience, position and workplace, and degree of knowledge.An anonymous survey was designed and validated, consisting of thirty-three multiple-choice questions. The survey included questions regarding their professional background and key questions regarding current dental law, forensic science and expertise. Members' level of knowledge of legal and forensic dentistry, health legislation and regulations in the Valencian Community is moderate, with only 63% of the questions answered correctly. Neither their level of education nor work experience correlates significantly with their degree of knowledge. Dentists specialising in General and Aesthetics Dentistry were found to be more knowledgeable about ethical issues. Regarding the workplace, those working as university teachers tended to stand out from the other professionals in terms of legal and ethical knowledge whilst self-employed and employee dentists show a lower level of knowledge than the rest of the sample.The conclusions obtained from this study highlight the need for dentists to complete and update their knowledge of forensic science and current health legislation, as having proper knowledge is a means of avoiding possible legal problems, which not only means better legal protection for the dentist but is also a means of guaranteeing adequate patient care.


Author(s):  
K. Culbreth

The introduction of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray analysis to forensic science has provided additional methods by which investigative evidence can be analyzed. The importance of evidence from the scene of a crime or from the personal belongings of a victim and suspect has resulted in the development and evaluation of SEM/x-ray analysis applications to various types of forensic evidence. The intent of this paper is to describe some of these applications and to relate their importance to the investigation of criminal cases.The depth of field and high resolution of the SEM are an asset to the evaluation of evidence with respect to surface phenomena and physical matches (1). Fig. 1 shows a Phillips screw which has been reconstructed after the head and shank were separated during a hit-and-run accident.


Author(s):  
R.F. Sognnaes

Sufficient experience has been gained during the past five years to suggest an extended application of microreplication and scanning electron microscopy to problems of forensic science. The author's research was originally initiated with a view to develop a non-destructive method for identification of materials that went into objects of art, notably ivory and ivories. This was followed by a very specific application to the identification and duplication of the kinds of materials from animal teeth and tusks which two centuries ago went into the fabrication of the ivory dentures of George Washington. Subsequently it became apparent that a similar method of microreplication and SEM examination offered promise for a whole series of problems pertinent to art, technology and science. Furthermore, what began primarily as an application to solid substances has turned out to be similarly applicable to soft tissue surfaces such as mucous membranes and skin, even in cases of acute, chronic and precancerous epithelial surface changes, and to post-mortem identification of specific structures pertinent to forensic science.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 707-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Peterson ◽  
Adrian M. Owen

In recent years, rapid technological developments in the field of neuroimaging have provided several new methods for revealing thoughts, actions and intentions based solely on the pattern of activity that is observed in the brain. In specialized centres, these methods are now being employed routinely to assess residual cognition, detect consciousness and even communicate with some behaviorally non-responsive patients who clinically appear to be comatose or in a vegetative state. In this article, we consider some of the ethical issues raised by these developments and the profound implications they have for clinical care, diagnosis, prognosis and medical-legal decision-making after severe brain injury.


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