Face-to-face and specifically: The teaching of the course “FORENSIC MEDICINE & TOXICOLOGY” consists of lectures, laboratory exercises, and the writing of assignments.

• The lectures elaborate on the material described above.
• The laboratory exercises (in 4 groups of students, with 1 instructor per group of 25-25 students) constitute the students’ practical training. This is a necessary supplement to the lectures and aims to familiarize them with the use of techniques employed in FORENSIC MEDICINE & TOXICOLOGY, as well as to aid in the understanding of concepts that are not easily grasped theoretically (learning based on practical experience).
• The writing of assignments helps students practice researching Greek and international literature concerning issues and case reports relevant to forensic medicine and toxicology.

Mandatory attendance in lectures: no

Mandatory attendance in laboratory exercises: yes.

Information and communication technologies are used for the preparation of lecture material and the provision of learning aids to students.

Specifically:

• Common software (e.g., PowerPoint) is used for the preparation of lecture material and the projection of slides and videos.
• The study guide (detailed syllabus & additional bibliography), the theory and protocols of the laboratory exercises, the lecture slides after each lesson, as well as videos and scientific articles related to the taught material are processed electronically and are available online to students via e-class.
• Information about the course’s educational material, as well as the instructors and their research interests, will be available online on the website of the Department of Medicine (ΠΘ).

The language of student evaluation is Greek.

Method of Evaluation:

A. In theory – lecture material: Written examinations with essay questions, multiple-choice questions, and true/false questions. Oral examination for students with special needs.

The course examinations are written, last 2 hours, and consist of essay topics, multiple-choice questions, true/false questions, and critical thinking or short-answer questions concerning forensic cases. The examinable material is the content of the lectures as described above.

B. In laboratory exercises: Oral examinations with short-answer and differential diagnosis questions.

Student participation in laboratory exercises is mandatory. In the laboratory examinations, the examinable material is the theory and methodology developed by the instructors during the laboratories.

The laboratory and course examinations are administered separately

The general aim of the course is to introduce students to the concept of Forensic Sciences (in their entirety) and to enable them to manage issues that arise in their daily medical practice in relation to death and postmortem phenomena, forensic toxicology and postmortem pathological anatomy, body injuries according to the Penal Code, physical and sexual abuse of adults and minors, issues of medical negligence, issues of humanitarian forensic medicine, as well as any other issue concerning the basic medical knowledge in relation to the Forensic Sciences. Furthermore, the course aims to provide students with the basic elements that an undergraduate student should understand in the field of Forensic Science. The specific objectives of the course are detailed in the following intended learning outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to utilize the acquired knowledge in order to:

• Understand the basic principles of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology.
• Relate the basic principles of Forensic Sciences to their other knowledge in the core fields of Medical Science.
• Understand and apply the basic principles of Forensic Sciences in their daily practice as a physician.
• Acquire the appropriate undergraduate skills in the field of Forensic Sciences to apply them in their subsequent clinical and academic career.
• Utilize the appropriate theoretical and practical tools of Forensic Sciences in their daily practice, primarily as a physician, but also in their potential future involvement with the specialized fields of these sciences (Forensic Medicine, Forensic Pathology, Forensic Toxicology, Forensic Anthropology).
• Become familiar with the areas of forensic imaging.
• Become familiar with the areas of medical negligence at criminal, civil, and administrative levels.
• Become familiar with concepts such as mass fatalities and humanitarian forensic medicine.
• Collaborate with their fellow students to carry out assignments and projects.

Section 1

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

• HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF FORENSIC SCIENCE
• DEATH INVESTIGATION
• CRIME SCENE

Section 2

CAUSES OF DEATH AND INVESTIGATION OF DEATH AND INJURIES

• PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF WOUND HEALING
• TIME OF DEATH
• SUICIDE, ACCIDENT, HOMICIDE, SUDDEN DEATH
• ASPHYXIA
• DROWNING
• ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS CAUSING ILLNESS AND DEATH
• DEATH IN THE OPERATING ROOM
• MATERNAL DEATH
• SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME (SIDS)
• DEATH IN SPORTS
• DEATH BY FIRE
• DEATHS IN CUSTODY
• DIVING – INJURIES AND BAROTRAUMA
• INJURIES AND DEATH FROM HEAT AND ELECTRICITY
• FALL FROM HEIGHT – INJURIES AND DEATH
• BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA
• WOUNDS FROM WEAPONS
• HEAD INJURIES

Section 3

PRACTICAL INVESTIGATION AND MANAGEMENT

• AGE ESTIMATION
• ADULT SEXUAL ABUSE
• SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
• ELDER ABUSE
• DNA PROFILING
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE
• PHARMACEUTICAL POISONING
• MASS FATALITIES

Section 4

FORENSIC SPECIALIZATIONS

• FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY
• FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
• FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
• FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY
• FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY
• FORENSIC IMAGING
• FORENSIC NURSING
• FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY
• FORENSIC REPORTS

• ΙΑΤΡΟΔΙΚΑΣΤΙΚΗ ΔΙΕΡΕΥΝΗΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΘΑΝΑΤΟΥ. ΜΙΧΑΛΟΔΗΜΗΤΡΑΚΗΣ ΜΑΝΩΛΗΣ. ISBN ΕΤΟΣ ΕΚΔΟΣΗΣ 2001.
• ΕΓΧΕΙΡΙΔΙΟ ΚΛΙΝΙΚΗΣ ΙΑΤΡΟΔΙΚΑΣΤΙΚΗΣ. ΧΑΡΑ ΣΠΗΛΙΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ, ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΣ ΚΑΤΣΟΣ. ISBN ΕΤΟΣ ΕΚΔΟΣΗΣ 2021.