An Experience on Facts about Teaching Forensic Medicine to Undergraduate Medical Students in South Africa

Authors

  • B Meel

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/ijfmt.v16i1.17708

Keywords:

forensic medicine, pathology, clinical & community

Abstract

South Africa is struggling with an enormous amount of forensic pathology services because there is
an extreme pressure on forensic pathologists to deal with the high number of medicolegal autopsies
in the country. There are only five dozen forensic pathologists in South Africa who have to handle at
least 80 000 autopsies per year. Medical officers, who have only received training as undergraduates in
medical school, are expected to conduct these autopsies. Therefore, undergraduate teaching and training
must be strong enough so that these young graduates can handle cases without any compromise in the
quality of the outcome.This report is going to highlight the necessity of teaching forensic medicine at
undergraduate level in South African medical schools. It will also discuss the shortcomings in medical
school teaching programmes.

Author Biography

  • B Meel

    Professor, MBBS, MD, DOH (Wits), DHSM (Natal), MPhil HIV/AIDS Management (Stellenbosch), Research
    Associate, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6017 South Africa

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Published

2021-11-29

How to Cite

An Experience on Facts about Teaching Forensic Medicine to Undergraduate Medical Students in South Africa. (2021). Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, 16(1), 1472-1476. https://doi.org/10.37506/ijfmt.v16i1.17708