Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

Legal and Forensic Dentistry

• code 10461
• course 5
• term Semester 1
• type OB
• credits 3

Main language of instruction: Spanish

Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English

Head instructor

Lda. Anna HOSPITAL - annah@uic.es

Office hours

Meeting with students will be stablished via email

ana.hospital@xij.gencat.net 

This subject provides the students of Degree of Dentistry the basis in Legal Odontology and Forensic Odontology.

Not request

- To promote the acquisition of knowledge, abilities, attitudes and professional behaviours that facilitate an effective and adequate interaction with patients, colleagues and other health professionals.

- To stimulate recognition and acceptance of the obligation to practice in the best interest of patients at all times and in accordance with the health legislation in force.

- To stimulate the acquisition of knowledge, abilities and attitudes promoting learning throughout life in an effective manner so as to allow adequate professional development.

- To promote research in dentistry and constant training in new techniques and improvements in the dentistry profession.

- To provide a clear idea of what legal and forensic dentistry is within the set of legal aspects of health sciences and the need and purpose of the subject.

- To provide the knowledge needed for duly exercising the profession of dentistry within the existing legal framework.

• 01 - Being aware of the essential elements of the dental profession, including the ethical principles and legal responsibilities it involves.
• 02 - Understanding how important these principles are in order to benefit patients, society and the profession, with particular attention being paid to professional secrecy.
• 08 - Knowing how to share information with other healthcare professionals and how to work as part of a team.
• 31 - Knowing about the National Healthcare System, as well as the basic aspects of healthcare legislation, clinical management and the correct use of healthcare resources, and understanding the importance of the role of the dentist in the field of Primary Healthcare
• 53 - Knowing the legislational and administrative ethical and deontological precepts which regulate the dental profession and its application in clinical management and practice, as well as the organisation, competences and functions of professional corporations. Filling in all types of medical and legal documents and records
• 55 - Recognising that the patient is the centre of attention and that all the interaction, including the prevention, diagnosis, planning and carrying out of the treatment and maintenance, and must support their best interests, always avoiding any type of discrimination and respecting confidentiality
• 56 - Identifying the signs and behaviour which suggest potential abuse

Basic concepts in Legal and Forensic Dentistry

• 1.11 - Identify in the corpse the different structures, organs, apparatus and systems in of the human body
• 1.13 - Identify using image techniques, structures of different topographical regions of the human body
• 1.20 - Identify using image techniques, structures of different topographical regions of the head and neck
• 5.11 - Develop the skills of oral and written communication

1. INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL AND FORENSIC DENTISTRY.

-        Scope and definition.

-        Importance and objectives.

-        Classification.

-        History and current situation.

1. THANATOLOGY.

-        Concept of death.

-        Diagnosis of certain death.

-        Types of death.

-        Cadaveric phenomena.

-        Destruction processes in the cadaver and conservators.

-        Natural processes conserving the cadaver.

-        Artificial processes conserving the cadaver.

-        Medico-legal issues.

-        Autopsy.

-        Clinical and legal autopsy.

-        Autopsy techniques.

-        Odontoestomatological autopsy: indications, techniques.

-        Extraction of maxilla and skeletisation.

1. FORENSIC PATHOLOGY.

-        Fatal lesions.

-        Non-fatal lesions.

-        Types of violent death.

-        Asphyxiation.

-        Injuries by bladed instrument.

-        Injuries by gunfire. Explosions.

-        Burn injuries.

-        Injuries by physical and chemical agents.

-        Traffic accidents.

-        Medico-legal issues in major catastrophes.

-        Role of the forensic dentist.

-        Rules for filling in INTERPOL dental forms.

      4.   CRIMINAL SCIENCE.

         -    Definition.

         -    Objectives.

         -    History.

         -    Identification. Methods.

         -    Reconstructive and comparative identification.

         -    Importance of dentistry for identification.

         -    Methodology for research on living beings, skeletons and recent cadavers.

         -    Soft tissues in identification.

          5. FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY.

       - The role of the laboratory in identification.

           The study of DNA for identification.

       6. BITEMARKS.

-        Characteristics.

-        Record.

-        Taking impressions.

-        Histology.

-        Antemortem and postmortem diagnosis.

7. DENTISTRY LEGISLATION.

-  Expert evidence in dentistry.

-  The dentist as an expert.

-  Expertise in criminal, civil and labour matters.

-  Professional liability. Concept.

- Criminal and civil liability of the dentist.

- Main circumstances of liability.

- Types of malpractice.

- Negligence and recklessness.

- Legal and medical assessment.

- Most frequent claims in dentistry.

- Requirements for the exercise of dentistry.

- The clinical history.

- The prescription in dentistry.

- Legal documents.

- Patient rights.

- Professional secret.

- Informed consent.

- Health legislation of relevance in dentistry.

8. EVALUATION OF ORAL DAMAGE.

-   Crime of bodily harm.

-   Prognosis of lesions.

-   Classification of lesions.

-   Bodily harm and evaluation in dentistry.

-   Scales used in the evaluation of damages in dentistry.

Gisbert-Calabuig JA, Villanueva E. Medicina Legal y Toxicología. 6ª ed. Barcelona: Masson, 2004.

Herschaft EE, Alder ME, Ord DK, Rawson RD, Smith ES. Manual of forensic odontology (4th ed.) . New York: ASFO (American Society of Forensic Odontology), 2007.

Mosby. Diccionario de Odontología. 2ª ed. Barcelona: Elsevier-Mosby, 2009.

Moya-Pueyo V, Roldán-Garrido B, Sánchez-Sánchez JA. Odontología legal y forense. Barcelona: Masson, 1994.

Prahlow JA, Byard RW. Atlas of forensic pathology. New York: Springer, 2012.

Correa-Ramírez A.I. Identificación forense.México:Trillas.1990.

E: exam date | R: revision date | 1: first session | 2: second session:

• E1 17/01/2019 18:00h A02
• E1 17/01/2019 18:00h A03
• R1 31/01/2019 18:00h A06
• E2 20/06/2019 17:30h A01
• R2 27/06/2019 18:00h A02