Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Forensic Medicine

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to train registered healthcare practitioners as experts in the Clinical Forensic Medicine field. This qualification emphasises the investment in and necessity for scarce skills development, the building of specialised capacity and advanced competency in the field of Medicine, in particular Clinical Forensic Medicine, within the context of advanced learning.

These professionals will develop an in-depth knowledge of the clinical and legal aspects of violence, crime, transportation injuries and medical practice that will enable them to present evidence to the courts of law and interpret for them medical evidence gained through the application of technical and analytical skills acquired in this qualification.

Rationale

The unenviable rates of violent crimes such as rape and sexual assault, physical assault, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect, as well as transportation injuries and the recent growth in the awareness of abuses of human rights and civil liberties. This has resulted in the need of appropriate human rights policies to be implemented and also to raise the profile of Clinical Forensic Medicine as a specialist field of study. Clinical Forensic Medicine is concerned with the condition of detention for prisoners and the application of justice for the victim and the suspect. The necessity for specialists in the field is evident, but expansion and growth of this specialist area depends on specialised training in forensic evidence collection, criminal procedures in-depth knowledge of medical law, ethical practice and legal testimony expertise.

This discipline is officially recognised by the Medical and Dental Professional Board, the College of Medicine of South Africa and approved by the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Each learner will be considered according to the institution's RPL policy and guidelines. The learner will be thoroughly briefed on the mechanism to be used and the appropriate support/guidance will be provided. The process will provide the learner with an opportunity to demonstrate competence in the relevant learning areas/outcomes and will not prevent him/her from taking up the RPL option towards attempting to gain the qualification.

If the learner is able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit in this qualification the appropriate credits will be assigned to him/her. RPL will be achieved by means of an appropriate integrated assessment method as mentioned above.

This RPL may allow a successful learner

• Accelerated access to further learning at this or higher levels on the NQF.
• Obtaining of this qualification in part or in whole.

Entry Requirements

Admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Forensic Medicine is subjected to the General Institutional Rules and Regulations for Advanced and Postgraduate Qualifications, as well as discipline specific requirements determined by the Faculty of Health Sciences and the School of Medicine.

Learners may register for the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Forensic Medicine

• Working as a professional within the Health Professions environment.
• In possession of a Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) or a relevant equivalent qualification on NQF exit Level8, or a relevant NQF Level 7 qualification in a cognate field of study, such as Nursing.
• Is registered with the Independent Practice Medical Practitioner with the Health Professions Council of South Africa or equivalent for the country of origin.

In the case of foreign learners who are not fully registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), or the South African Nursing Council (SANC), each case will be dealt with on merit according to the prescriptions of the HPCSA and SANC. If successful, these candidates may obtain a Postgraduate Diploma, but will not be able to practice in South Africa without approval and Registration with the HPCSA and SANC.

This qualification consists of 10 compulsory modules at NQF Level 8, totalling 144 Credits

• Medical Law and Ethics, 20 Credits.
• Applied Forensic Pathology, 20 Credits.
• Sexual Offences, 20 Credits.
• Traffic Medicine, 12 Credits.
• Clinical Toxicology for Medical Forensic Investigators, 12 Credits.
• Child Abuse, 12 Credits.
• Medical evidence and forensic science, 12 Credits.
• Social context of crimes, 12 Credits.
• Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, 12 Credits.
• Custodial Medicine Torture, and Trafficking in Persons, 12 Credits.

1. Provide emotional care of victims and reconstruction of their support systems within their social context.
2. Demonstrate and critically review participation in the legal process for alleged perpetrators within legal and ethical parameters.
3. Critically review and collect medico-legal specimens appropriately by adhering to principles of quality assurance and legal admissibility.
4. Criticise the methods and procedures for documenting clinical and medico-legal findings for presentation and interpretation to the medico legal stakeholders.
5. Evaluate and identify factors related to the correctional institutional environment.
6. Demonstrate the use of methods and procedures related to the acts regarding the Mental Healthcare Act.
7. Develop creative alternatives of managing information on ethics and medical law.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Communication with the patient, other health care workers and the community is conducted efficiently and effectively in order to obtain a history, to explain the medico-legal process.
• Problem-solving techniques which draw multi-faceted knowledge is used in order to arrive at medical diagnosis; arrive at medico-legal conclusion; and holistically manage the case of the patient.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Confidence is shown whilst interviewing and examining an individual suspected, accused or convicted of committing a crime within ethical and legal boundaries.
• Independence from law enforcement officers while attending to a patient is demonstrated.
• Previous management or handling of suspects, accused and convicts is evaluated according to the different protocols and declarations of various international organisations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Possible evidential value of fluids or stains for collection from a medico legal patient is evaluated.
• Knowledge of common pitfalls in specimen collection, specimen preservation, specimen custody and specimen transportation is understood that can invalidate the tests.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Knowledge of the history of the signs and symptoms commonly applied in clinical forensic medicine is demonstrated.
• The use of current techniques for examination, interpretation and recording of medico legal findings and conclusions are advocated.
• Medical findings and medico legal conclusions are presented in plain language, avoiding technical jargon.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Independence from management and correctional facility officers is demonstrated while attending to patients in their custody.
• Previous management or handling of convicts according to the different protocols and declarations of various international organisations is evaluated.
• Torture is diagnosed and victims are managed holistically.
• Risk factors for suicide and/or homicide of individuals in custody are identified and managed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• The committing of an individual for observation is managed.
• The admission of voluntary and involuntary mental healthcare users in line with the act is managed.
• An individual is assessed for fitness to stand trial.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Medico legal reports that are user friendly are produced.
• Different levels of technological advances between the different fields in which clinical forensic medicine is practices are aligned.

Integrated Assessment

Applied competence will be demonstrated through a variety of formative assessment methods such as

• Portfolios.
• Simulations.
• Workplace assessments and practical workbooks/logbooks.
• Written assignments.
• Written tests.
• Case studies and case presentations.
• Problem based assessments.
• Peer group projects and assignments.
• Oral presentations.
• Competency assessment of clinical skills.

As well as examinations as summative assessment. The focus will be on the integration of theory into practice.