The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has achieved a milestone by becoming the first institute in Pakistan to introduce a certificate program in Medico-legal Examination. This course will primarily focus on forensic medicine and medical jurisprudence, aiming to enhance the skills, ethics, and professionalism of individuals engaged in medico-legal practice.
In the medico-legal process, it is the responsibility of a doctor to examine victims of various crimes, including accidents, assaults, and potential murders, at an authorized healthcare facility. This crucial step involves documenting the injuries sustained by the victim.
Notably, the Lahore High Court (LHC) had issued directives to the Punjab government last year, emphasizing the need to enhance the expertise of examiners in medico-legal cases. The court underscored the importance of ensuring that medical examiners are well-qualified to handle such critical cases.
Key Details about the Course:
This certificate program is the result of collaborative efforts between the Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department (P&SHC), Health Information & Service Delivery Unit (HISDU), Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA), and UHS.
The course has been structured as a four-week hands-on training program, segmented into various sections. Its primary objective is to provide practical training to Medical Officers (MOs), Women Medical Officers (WMOs), and Dental Surgeons throughout Punjab.
The training curriculum covers a range of subjects, including Toxicology, Traumatology, Autopsy, Medical Law, Ethics, Medico-legal Report Writing, Identification, Sample Handling, Preservation, and Electronic Data Management.
Training centers for this program have been established at the Forensic Medicine Department at Jinnah Campus UHS, Services Hospital Lahore, Jinnah Hospital Lahore, Lahore General Hospital, and PFSA.
The Punjab government has ambitious plans to train 400 individuals over the next two years. Each batch will consist of 40 candidates per month. These candidates will be tasked with completing logbook assignments and submitting portfolios for evaluation as part of the certification examination.
In collaboration with government entities, this groundbreaking initiative by the University of Health Sciences reflects a commitment to improving the standards of medico-legal examinations in Pakistan and ensuring that professionals in this field receive comprehensive training and education.
