Definition of Medical Jurisprudence

Definition of Medical Jurisprudence

Medical jurisprudence: 

•The branch of the law that deals with the application of law to medicine or, conversely, the application of medical science to legal problems. Medical jurisprudence may be involved in cases concerning genetic relationships (eg, paternity testing) or injury or death resulting from violence. 

•An autopsy may be done to help determine the agent of death (eg, a gun shot, poison) and how long the person has been dead.. Forensic medicine is also important in cases involving rape. Modern techniques use such specimens as semen, blood, and hair to identify the body of a victim and to compare the DNA of the criminal to that of the defendant through DNA fingerprinting.

•Medical jurisprudence is concerned with a broad range of medical, legal, and ethical issues, as well as human rights and rights of individuals.

•Physicians have a duty to act in their patients best interest and can be charged in a court of law if they fail to do so. On the other hand, a physician may be required to act in the interest of third parties if his patient is a danger to others. Failure to do so may lead to legal action against the physician.

Medical jurisprudence includes

•questions of the legal and ethical duties of physicians;

•questions affecting the civil

Aspects, including:

questions of competence or sanity in civil or criminal proceedings;

questions of competence of minors in matters affecting their own health; and,

questions of lawful fitness or safety to drive a motor vehicle, pilot an aeroplane, use scuba gear, play certain sports, or to join certain occupations.

•Aspects, including:

•assessment of illness or injuries that may be work-related (see workers' compensation or occupational safety and health) or otherwise compensable;

•assessment of injuries of minors that may relate to neglect or abuse; and,

•certification of death or else the assessment of possible causes of death. This, however, is the more commonly understood, albeit narrow, meaning of forensic medicine.