Master of Medicine in Forensic Pathology

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to produce qualified, appropriately trained professionals in Forensic Pathology for South Africa with the specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will enable them to register as specialists with the Medical and Dental Professional Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

Rationale

The Master in Medicine in Forensic Pathology is designed to increase the number of properly trained health care workers and to train and inspire a new generation of clinical researchers and university teachers. This qualification provides opportunities for future training and development of registrars in Forensic pathology in the medical schools in South Africa. It also aims to provide qualifying learners with the foundation for continued personal and intellectual growth, gainful economic activity, and for contributing to society at large through advanced patient care, innovation, scholarship, and leadership in the field of Forensic Pathology. The applied competence and skills derived from their training in Forensic pathology is sufficient to allow them to be accredited specialists with registration recognition with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). This qualification is structured according to the guidelines of the HPCSA and the College of Medicine of South Africa.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

For this qualification, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be predominantly used for returning learners with an incomplete Master's qualification and for learners who have an incomplete Master's qualification obtained at another institution. The RPL process involves matching the learner's current knowledge and skills to the learning outcomes of the qualification to determine whether a returning learner should be given credit for specific units of competency. RPL may also be used to grant access to the qualification to learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirements.

Entry Requirements

• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, NQF Level 8.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at Level 9 totalling 720 Credits

• Forensic Anatomical Pathology, 140 Credits.
• Mini-Dissertation (Forensic Pathology), 180 Credits.
• Forensic Pathology, 400 Credits.

1. Perform medico-legal investigations into deaths using appropriate investigative techniques in order to assist and facilitate the administration of justice, statistical and related socio-economic functions.
2. Advise and assist in the development of policies relevant to medico-legal investigation of death in South Africa.
3. Interpret scientific literature relevant to own field and through reflection adapt new developments in the field of Forensic Pathology into his/her clinical practice.
4. Conceptualise, plan and implement, and interpret research relevant to the practice of Forensic Pathology.
5. Train junior colleagues in training and/or working within the field of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Pathology, including stakeholders within the criminal justice system.
6. Demonstrate awareness of the importance of community outreach programmes within the field of Forensic Pathology.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Function and practice as a Forensic Pathology practitioner by using medico-legal investigative techniques of scene and post-mortem examination, autopsy, histology, post-mortem, and medico-legal report writing and court professional and expert testimonies in public and/or private medico-legal matters.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Conduct medico-legal investigations of death in all sorts situations and circumstances other than natural deaths that happen in South Africa using a variety of specialised medico-legal and pathology technical skills.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Make a significant and original contribution to knowledge and practice in their professional context and more generally to scholarship within a discipline or field of study

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Conduct research in an area of Forensic Pathology.
• Present a cogent dissertation on research conducted.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Participate adequately in teaching seminars.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Participate adequately in teaching seminars
• Participate in the maintenance of professional competence on a continuous basis.

Integrated Assessment

In order to ensure that all Exit Level Outcomes are met, an integrated assessment approach is used throughout the qualification, which includes continuous assessment by specialist clinicians. and portfolios. Formative assessments are carried out throughout the duration of the modules in the form of written assignments on each topic class tests. Weekly presentations, portfolios, composition of log-book, WIL also forms part of formative assessment.

Summative assessment take place in the presence of an external examiner in the form of written examinations, oral examinations, Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE), as well as an assessment of an Autopsy. Assessments ensure integration of all learning requirements to ensure that the learner exits with specialised knowledge in the field of Forensic Pathology.

The research component forms an integral part of the qualification in that a problem within the research focus of the division is studied in more detail. Learners must produce a mini-dissertation and a publishable article for assessment by internal and external examiners. Master of Medicine learners first have to submit their dissertation before they may sit for the exit examination for specialists through the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA).