Clinical Forensic Sciences

Code:

MCF13_2

Acronym:

MCF13_2

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Forensic Sciences

Instance: 2023/2024 - SP

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education Department
Course/CS Responsible:	Forensic Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCF	28	Current Studies Plan	1	-	6	40	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

At the Forensic Clinic level, it is intended that students acquire knowledge in the context of medical and psychological evaluation applied to the study of victims of violence, as well as in terms of assessment practices. In terms of intervention, either the rational or the issues of diagnosis, as a tool for guiding interventions, will be addressed in this unit, so that students grasp the general principles of medical and psychological intervention in this area. The aim is also to promote theoretical and practical knowledge of students seeking their awareness and the introduction to the issues of planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of violence prevention activities.

At the level of Forensic Pathology, it is intended that students learn and / or strengthen the language of Forensic Pathology (concepts) and acquire knowledge and the ability to observe/describe and reason in terms of pathological interpretation and problem solving.

Learning outcomes and competences

While not comprehensively addressing all of the complexity and magnitude of the problems inherent to violence against people, whether mortal or not, it's intended to address the main key points in order to create a broad understanding of the topic, while allowing students to develop capabilities to deepen their knowledge according to their intervening area. It's expected at the end of the unit to have raised the students’ sensitivity and critical judgment, thus promoting their problem solving ability in this context.

Working method

Presencial

Program

I. Clinical Forensic: General concepts of violence and victimization. Types of victimization, contexts and forms of victimization.

1. a) Clinical Forensic Medicine: Models and general strategies and specific medico-legal assessment of bodily harm; forensic assessment (Criminal, Civil and Labour Law)


2. b) Forensic Psychology and Forensic psychological evaluation: concepts; psychologic assessment (Civil, Labour and Minors & Family Law); specificities in victims’ and offenders’ evaluation.


3. c) Forensic psychiatry and psychiatric evaluation in the forensic context

II. Forensic Pathology: medico-legal autopsy - types, objectives, legal aspects and preliminary procedures. Pathophysiology of death. Mechanisms and causes of death. Signals due to the establishment of cadaveric phenomena. Crime scene examination. The general technique of autopsy. Pathology of injuries, their mechanisms of production and their classification

III. Forensic Dentistry and Anthropology

Mandatory literature

Dolinak D, Matshes E & Lew E; Forensic Pathology, Academic Press, 2005
Magalhães T; Violencia e abuso. Respostas simples para questões complexas, Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra, 2010
Marques Teixeira, J; Inimputabilidade e imputabilidade diminuída, Saúde Mental, 2006

Complementary Bibliography

Bowers, CM & Bell, GL; Manual of Forensic Odontology, American Society of Forensic Odontology, 1995
Byers, S; Introduction to Forensic Anthropology. A textbook., Allyn & Bacon, 2002
Fonseca AC, Simões MR, Simões MT, Pinho SP; Psicologia Forense, Almedina, 2006
Pekka Saukko, Knight B; Forensic Pathology, Edward Arnold, 2003
Vieira DN & Quintero JA; Aspetos práticos da avaliação do dano corporal em Portugal, Caixa Seguros, 2008

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical classes and case discussion.

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	80,00
Frequência das aulas	40,00
Total:	120,00

Eligibility for exams

Final exam = 100%

Calculation formula of final grade

Final exam grade (0-20)