Forensic Nursing- A Brief Review

 

Ms. Sonali Sangrulkar

Clinical Instructor, K. J. Somaiya School of Nursing, Mumbai

 

ABSTRACT:

Current global conditions have our attention riveted on violence as an international concern. Recognizing violence as a public health problem mandates that successful intervention must encompass a collaborative effort among health care professionals within a criminal justice system. To develop interventions to prevent violent behavior and to protect at risk populations, professionals are needed who understand the dynamics of both victimization and criminal behavior. Forensic nurses are uniquely positioned to fulfill this role and to inform the necessary collaborative relationships and coalition of resources that need to exist among the health care system.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Forensic nursing is an innovative and evolving nursing specialty that seeks to address health care issues that have a medico legal component. Although forensic nursing has been practiced informally by nurses in various sectors for many years, it has only recently been recognized formally in response to an increasing level of sophistication in identifying its unique body of knowledge. Forensic nursing represents a new perspective on the holistic approach to legal issues surrounding patient care in clinical or community base setting. It is the fact that many forensic patients first present to the emergency department. Despite the urgency presented by many cases within the emergency department, as a part of multi disciplinary team attending the victims, it is the nurse’s responsibility to collect or preserve all forensic evidence.¹

 

Definition:

1.        Forensic nursing:- It is defined as the application of the nursing process to public or legal proceedings,  and the application of forensic health care in the scientific investigation of trauma and/or death related to abuse, violence, criminal activity, liability and accidents.² (lynch 2004)

2.        Forensic science:- it is defined as the application of science to the just resolution of regal issues.² (American academy of forensic sciences 2010)

 

Vulnerable Populations:

There are many facets to forensic nursing practice that are consistent while nursing practice in general but are specific to the specialized expertise of the forensic nurse. The neediest, the disenfranchised, and the least powerful comprise a population that may become invisible within the health care system. Some of the vulnerable groups are

·         Poor/disadvantaged people

·         Homeless

·         Pregnant adolescent

·         Mentally ill individuals

·         Abused people^.1

 

Health Care Fraud:

Health care fraud is defined by the food and drug administration (FDA) as the deceptive sale or advertising of products that claim to be effective against medical conditions or otherwise beneficial to health, but which has not been proven safe and effective for those purposes.

 

1.       Trafficking in human organs:

Organ trafficking refers to the procurement of living or decreased persons or their organs involving payments or benefits to the third party for the purpose of organ transplantation. Although outlawed in virtually every country of the world, such procurement and sale of organs continues to warrant concern. This practice frequently involves the exploitation, fraud, deception, or other abuses of power over vulnerable individuals.

 

2.       Transplant tourism:

Transplant tourism describes the travel of individuals seeking an organ transplant or other medical procedures to jurisdictions where they can obtain the organ or procedure through payment, as for a commodity. Most often this activity involves travel to countries having a large segment of vulnerable individuals desperate for money. One such country, China has long been known for its lucrative trade in organs, most of which is harvested from executed prisoners.

 

3.       Living Donors:

Donation of organs by living donors involves three distinct situations, the first is by a relative or friend, second type is from the general pool by means of waiting list and third is made to a stranger without previous relationship. This practice has gained in popularity in recent years and is greatly facilitated by internet access to willing and compatible donors.⁴

 

The Forensic Nurse:

Roles and Relevance:

Nurses who apply concepts and strategies of forensic science in their specialty practice include the following:

 

·         Clinical forensic Nurse:

Provides care for the survivors of crime-related injury and deaths that occur within the health care institution. This specialty has a duty to defend the patient’s legal rights through the proper collection and documentation of evidence.

 

·         Forensic Nurse Investigator:

Employed in the medical examiner’s/ coroner’s jurisdiction and represents the decedent’s right to social justice through scientific investigation of the scene and circumstances of death. This role may also include the investigation of criminal behavior in insti care, insurance fraud and abuse.

 

·         Forensic Nurse Examiner:

Provides an incisive analysis of physical and psychological trauma, questioned deaths, and/or psychopathology evaluations related to forensic cases and interpersonal violence.

 

·         Forensic Correctional, Institutional or Custodial Nurse:

Specializes in the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of persons who have been sentenced to prison or jails for violation of criminal statutes and require medical assessment and intervention.

 

·         Legal Nurse Consultant:

Provides expert witness testimony and education to judicial, justice and health care professionals in areas such as personal injury, product liability, and malpractice among other legal issues related to civil and criminal cases.

 

·         Nurse Attorney:

A registered nurse with a Juris Doctorate Degree who practices as an attorney at law, generally specializing in civil or criminal cases involving health care related issues.

 

·         Nurse Coroner:

A registered nurse serving as an elected officiators of death duly authorized by state and jurisdictional statutes to provide the investigation and certification of questioned deaths, to determine the cause and manner of death as well as the criminal statutes pertaining to the decedent’s identification and notification of next of kin.³

 

REFERENCES:-

1.     Rita hammer, Barbara Moynihan, Elaine m Pagliona. Forensic nursing A handbook for practice, 2^nd edition, Jones and Barlett publishers, 15 November 2011

2.     https://www.discovernursing.com/specialty/forensic-nurse#.V2i5-RLRTIU

3.     http://www.forensicnurses.org/?page=becomefn

4.     https://www.nhcaa.org/resources/health-care-anti-fraud-resources/the-challenge-of-health-care-fraud.aspx

 

 

 

Received on 18.11.2016          Modified on 21.12.2016

Accepted on 30.01.2017          © A&V Publications all right reserved