Role of Forensic Medicine Doctors in Assisting Non-Forensic Clinicians with Medico legal Cases: Should it be considered Formal Work?

Abstract

In healthcare services, medico-legal cases (MLCs) form a critical intersection between medicine and law. Forensic medicine specialists play a vital role in bridging this gap. Their expertise is sought in various capacities, including conducting autopsies, investigating causes of death, and providing expert testimony in courts.(1) However, a nuanced role they often assume involves guiding other doctors in managing medico-legal cases, particularly in settings where legal implications arise from medical procedures, patient injuries, or deaths.(2) This article seeks to explore whether such advisory roles are regarded as “work” within the professional duties of forensic medicine doctors.