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Forensic biodynamics: a valid subsection of forensic engineering?
ELSEVIER
Forensic Science International 77 (1996) I-2
Science Internatiial
Editorial
Forensic biodynamics: a valid subsection of forensic engineering? L.D.M.
Nokes”, B.H. Knightb
“Medico1 S~S~PI??S Engineering Rrseurch I/nil ENGIN, Univrrsity of’ Wales Cardi@ P.O. Box 917. Card@ CFZ IXH, UK h Wales Instilurr of’ Forensic, Mrdicinr, Uniaersiry of’ Wales Collegr of’ Medicine, Card@ Royal hfirmary, Newport Roud, Curdle. UK
The last few years have seen a rapid expansion in the field of Forensic Engineering. This includes a number of books and conferences dedicated to this particular field. There are several definitions of forensic engineering; most include the concept of the professional engineer acting as an expert witness in medical litigation cases. These could include determining theoretically or experimentally the causes and consequences of accidents or catastrophic failures and the subsequent preparation of reports. Milton F. Lunch [1] provided the following definition of Forensic Engineering: Forensic Engineering is the application of the art and science of engineering in the jurisprudence system requiring the services of legally qualified professional engineers. Forensic Engineering may include the investigation of the physical causes of accidents and other causes of claims, litigation, preparation of engineering reports, testimony at hearings and trials, in administrative or judicial proceedings and the rendition of advisory opinions to assist the resolution of dispute affecting the life of property.
By its nature Forensic Engineering often involves a multi-disciplinary approach. For example, in a road accident case this may involve forensic scientists, pathologists mechanical, material, and civil engineers. Often structural failures and accidents involve injury or loss of life. This inevitably results in legal actions. By its definition, Forensic Engineering covers a wide range of topics. However, injury or death may not occur in all cases under the current definition of Forensic Engineering. 0379-0738/96/$15.00 0 1996 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved SSDI 0379-0738(95)0 185 I-Z
We suggest that there is a subsection of Forensic Engineering that is of suitable magnitude to warrant its own specialist field. Assaults on the body include impacts with blunt instruments, shaking, falls, stab wounds or injuries caused by high or low velocity projectiles or other dynamic forces. The science of applying engineering to the human body presently lies under the banner of Forensic Engineering. Perhaps a more appropriate title for this specific field of Forensic Engineering should be Forensic Biodynamics. This not only covers all situations which result in injury or death due to dynamic effects on the body but would also include the analysis of degradation of body components such as temperature or the development of rigor mortis after death. There are few, if any situations where physical agents are applied to the human body to cause injury or death, without the principles of engineering being applicable. Similarly, the analysis of temperature decay, muscle excitability and body biochemistry often involve applied mathematics. Specialists in the area of Forensic Biodynamics could form a forum to act as a focal point for the collection and dissemination of information pertinent only to this field and not as is currently practiced under the Forensic Engineering umbrella. References [I] K.L. Karper, Forensic
Enginrrring,
Elsevier, New York
1989.
Forensic Science International 77 (1996) I-2
Science Internatiial
Editorial
Forensic biodynamics: a valid subsection of forensic engineering? L.D.M.
Nokes”, B.H. Knightb
“Medico1 S~S~PI??S Engineering Rrseurch I/nil ENGIN, Univrrsity of’ Wales Cardi@ P.O. Box 917. Card@ CFZ IXH, UK h Wales Instilurr of’ Forensic, Mrdicinr, Uniaersiry of’ Wales Collegr of’ Medicine, Card@ Royal hfirmary, Newport Roud, Curdle. UK
The last few years have seen a rapid expansion in the field of Forensic Engineering. This includes a number of books and conferences dedicated to this particular field. There are several definitions of forensic engineering; most include the concept of the professional engineer acting as an expert witness in medical litigation cases. These could include determining theoretically or experimentally the causes and consequences of accidents or catastrophic failures and the subsequent preparation of reports. Milton F. Lunch [1] provided the following definition of Forensic Engineering: Forensic Engineering is the application of the art and science of engineering in the jurisprudence system requiring the services of legally qualified professional engineers. Forensic Engineering may include the investigation of the physical causes of accidents and other causes of claims, litigation, preparation of engineering reports, testimony at hearings and trials, in administrative or judicial proceedings and the rendition of advisory opinions to assist the resolution of dispute affecting the life of property.
By its nature Forensic Engineering often involves a multi-disciplinary approach. For example, in a road accident case this may involve forensic scientists, pathologists mechanical, material, and civil engineers. Often structural failures and accidents involve injury or loss of life. This inevitably results in legal actions. By its definition, Forensic Engineering covers a wide range of topics. However, injury or death may not occur in all cases under the current definition of Forensic Engineering. 0379-0738/96/$15.00 0 1996 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved SSDI 0379-0738(95)0 185 I-Z
We suggest that there is a subsection of Forensic Engineering that is of suitable magnitude to warrant its own specialist field. Assaults on the body include impacts with blunt instruments, shaking, falls, stab wounds or injuries caused by high or low velocity projectiles or other dynamic forces. The science of applying engineering to the human body presently lies under the banner of Forensic Engineering. Perhaps a more appropriate title for this specific field of Forensic Engineering should be Forensic Biodynamics. This not only covers all situations which result in injury or death due to dynamic effects on the body but would also include the analysis of degradation of body components such as temperature or the development of rigor mortis after death. There are few, if any situations where physical agents are applied to the human body to cause injury or death, without the principles of engineering being applicable. Similarly, the analysis of temperature decay, muscle excitability and body biochemistry often involve applied mathematics. Specialists in the area of Forensic Biodynamics could form a forum to act as a focal point for the collection and dissemination of information pertinent only to this field and not as is currently practiced under the Forensic Engineering umbrella. References [I] K.L. Karper, Forensic
Enginrrring,
Elsevier, New York
1989.