vii

INTERNATIONAL REFERENCE ORGANIZATION IN FORENSIC MEDICINE AND SCIENCES

ALOOKATTHEFUTURE

The recent addition of Denmark, Eire and Great Britain to the European community has brought some thoughts by Dr. Bernard Knight of Cardiff, Wales, as to the possible changes which might affect forensic medicine. Knight writes, “I have been interested for several years in the medical impli- cations of this profoundly important federation, and have followed the pro- gress of the various medical developments at Brussels. It occurs to me that our particular concern in Britain is the likelihood that our particular field of interest, namely legal or forensic medicine, may eventually be affected con- siderably by the potential changes brought about by the development of the European community. This is perhaps even more likely in legal medicine than in other branches of medicine, as we will be involved not only in medical administrative changes but will also be affected by realignment of legislative and other legal measures.

Another aspect which is of particular concern in Britain is the likelihood of a uniform system of specialist registration and certification, as it affects forensic medicine. Though official state specialist registers already exist in certain European countries, they hitherto have not been applicable in

ritain, though already our General Medical Council is preparing for this change. I feel that if such a strong trend towards specialist unification and common legislation etc., in the field of legal medicine, medical ethics, civil compensation, insurance and the numerous other aspects of law and medi- cine develop in the Community, there should be some means of close com- munication between medicolegal practitioners in the constituent countries of the Community.

This presumably might best be done by collaboration between the various professional and scientific societies with which we are associated, but 7, feel that someone should take the initiative and begin to organize some definite channels of collaboration between us, even if only on an informal basis, like this communication.”

Dr Knight would like to receive personal views of others in this matter as he feels the medicolegal implications of the new Europe will become very

. . . Vlll

real and apparent in the next decade. Those who would like to contact Dr Knight can do so by writing him c/o Institute of Pathology, Royal Infirmary, Welsh National Medical School, Cardiff, CF2 ISZ, Wales.

During the Edinburgh meeting of September past, several colleagues prac- tising forensic medicine in Africa met to develop an African Organization in Forensic Sciences. Dr Laing of the Pathology Institute of the University Medical School in Accra, Ghana, and Dr Malik of the Sudan were both instrumental in this organization developing from the meeting. If there are others who might be interested, please contact Dr William Laing of Accra, Ghana, c/o the Pathology Department of the University Medical School.

From Athens, Greece, Dr Antony Coutselinis reports on the activities of his Institute and of his colleagues. There are University Departments of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology in Athens and at Salonica, and two Medi- cal Examiner Centers, in Athens and Piraeus. The subject of forensic medi- cine has been taught in Athens University since 1837. In 1910 the degree of Medical-jurist was established for permanent civil servants in Athens, and later in Piraeus. They are required to perform medicolegal cases! as well as psychiatric expertise, as are ordered by the District Attorney and the Ex- aminer’s Office or by the criminal courts. In 1942 the Medicolegal service of Athens and Piraeus was formed under the Ministry of Justice, providing forensic services for these areas. In 197 1 the district services of forensic medicine were established where a Court of Appeals operates. The address of the University Department of Forensic Medicine is 48 Academy Avenue, Athens 143, Greece.

We are happy to report that the following finished work is now available at cost. These are compilations and indexed collections of the following periodicals:

Volumes 1- 17, Journal of Forensic Sciences Volumes 1 - 18, Journal of Forensic Medicine Volumes 1- 12, Medicine, Science and the Law

This is a project of INFORM and will include such compilations for all of the currently published periodicals in the Forensic Sciences.

William 6. Eckert Editor, INFORM

Laboratory, St Francis Hospital Wichita, Kansas 672 14, USA