A.

Definitions
1. Legal Medicine - Branch of medicine which deals with the application of
medical knowledge to the purpose of law and in the administration of
justice (Solis, Legal medicine p. 1); Application of Medicine to Law
2. Medical Jurisprudence - Legal aspect of medical practice (Solis, Medical
Jurisprudence p.1); Application of Law to Medicine
3. Forensic Science - Application of a broad range of scientific disciplines to
public or legal concerns
a. Forensic Entomology - application of knowledge about insects, insect
identification; knowledge of their developmental and reproductive
stages to deal with legal problems such as time of death, and
reconstruction of crime scene.
b. Forensic Odontology - the application of dental knowledge to legal
problems such as identification of human remains, and analysis of
bitemarks.
c. Forensic Anthropology - discipline concerned with study of
skeletonized human remains as they apply to identification,
determination of age, sex, presence of trauma or disease.
d. Forensic Toxicology - discipline that concerns itself with a study on
drugs and metabolites in biological fluids with application in medicolegal cases; study of poisons and the different types of poisoning.
e. Forensic Chemistry - scientific examination and identification of
physical evidence such as blood and seminal fluids, gunpowder
residues, explosives, hairs and fibers, tool marks, glass
fragments/fractures, paints and soil; DNA
f. Forensic Computer Science - the application of knowledge on
computers and technology to elucidate legal problems such as
recovery and analysis of digital evidence, documentation and
interpretation of computer data, and other legal issues involving use of
computer or networks as a tool or target in the commission of the
crime.
g. Questioned Document Examination - study of all types of
questioned documents including handwriting analysis, examination of
signatures, study of document alterations of obliterations and
examination of counterfeit bills
h. Forensic Photography documentation of crime scene and physical
evidence
i. Dactyloscopy - study of fingerprint principles in criminal investigation
j. Polygraphy - specific detection of deception in relation to criminal
investigation.

4. Forensic Medicine - branch of medicine that deals with use of medical

knowledge to elucidate legal problems.

a. Clinical Forensic Medicine - branch of medicine that deals

specifically with cases involving both legal and medical aspects of
patient care.
b. Forensic Pathology - subspecialty of pathology that focuses on
medico-legal death investigation; for death under suspicious
circumstances, medico-legal officer can conduct an autopsy
c. Forensic Psychiatry
Forensic Psychiatry use of psychiatric evaluation and
knowledge on human behavior to elucidate legal problems,
provision of therapeutic services
Forensic Psychology use of knowledge of the behavioral
science for assessment of criminal behavior, provision of
therapeutic services provided to individuals in forensic settings
d. Autopsy - a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough
examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to
evaluate any disease or injury that may be present.
a. Health Officers
b. Medical Officers of law enforcement agencies
c. Members of medical staff of accredited hospitals. (Code of
Sanitation)
5. Agencies Concerned with forensic investigation
a. National Bureau of Investigation
b. Philippine National Police
c. Local Crime Laboratories