Study project (M.Med.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main purpose in doing forensic post mortems is to supply information to the
judicial system. Medical personnel involved in doing post mortems seldom get
feedback regarding efficiency. Numerous allegations have been made regarding
the work of district surgeons in terms of forensic post mortems, often suggesting
that the work is substandard.
In South Africa district surgeons do post mortems mostly in the rural areas, and
training centre personnel do forensic post mortems in urban areas. Training
centre personnel include specialized forensic pathologists, registrars and medical
officers working in the Departments of Forensic Medicine, affiliated to
universities. The South African Police Service mostly manages government
mortuaries. The South African forensic medico-legal system is unique, and does
not correspond in with the four main systems used worldwide.
Research was done by sending 200 questionnaires to a representative group
from the legal fraternity of the Western Cape (including judges / magistrates,
state prosecutors, private lawyers) and also the South African Police Service
investigating officers. The judiciary, as the users of the information generated
through forensic post mortems, are therefore in a suitable position to determine
the efficacy of forensic post mortem. The questionnaire was structured to
determine the general perception, as well as comments, regarding 9 different
aspects involved with doing forensic post mortems. These include the
thoroughness and completeness of reports, standard of academic knowledge,
efficacy of verbal testimony in court, length of time in releasing the report, general
attitude, efficacy of sketches and diagrams, efficacy of photography, sufficient
taking of toxicology samples and sufficient utilization of special laboratory
investigations. The last question was an open question to allow for general
comments and anecdotes.
For each aspect it was also determined whether there was a difference in efficacy
noted between the two groups. The effect of this, if any, on the judicial criminal
justice system was also assessed.
A different questionnaire was sent out to all forensic pathologists in the Western
Cape. The standard of work of the district surgeons was hereby assessed.
General comment regarding academic knowledge, and findings at post mortem
made by district surgeons was assessed. The pathologists were also questioned
regarding the general attitude of district surgeons, and imput were asked
regarding continued medical education programs. An area for general comment
was also supplied.
The main findings were as follows:
a. The legal fraternity in the Western Cape is generally satisfied with the
efficiency of forensic post mortems, except the use of laboratory
investigations and also the length of time to release reports.
b. The legal fraternity could determine a difference in the efficiency of post
mortems done by district surgeons and training centre personnel.
Training centre personnel were generally regarded as more effective.
c. The difference between the two groups, due to ineffective district surgeon
post mortems, had a negative effect on the criminal justice system.
The following recommendations were made:
a. Training centre personnel: Serious consideration should be given to
appointing qualified forensic pathologists in the rural areas. Training
centre personnel should also be more involved in training the district
surgeons.
b. District surgeons: The training, re-training and continued medical
education of district surgeons in the Western Cape should be prioritized.
The service conditions should also be reviewed.
c. Administrative: Audit of post mortem reports. The efficiency regarding
court appearances should be audited through the Department of Justice.
Administrative power will be necessary to oversee the above-mentioned
recommendations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofdoel met die doen van geregtelike post mortems is om inligting te
verskaf aan die regsproses. Medici gemoeid met geregtelike post mortems kry
baie seide terugvoer oor die effektiwiteit van werk gelewer in die hof. Daar is ook
herhaaldelik suggesties gemaak dat die werk van die distriksgeneeshere met
betrekking tot geregtelike post mortems soms suboptimaal is.
Regsmediese post mortemdienste in Suid Afrika word verskaf deur distriksgeneeshere
in die platteland, en deur personeel verbonde aan opleidingshospitale
in die stede. Die opleidingssentra-personeel sluit in gespesialiseerde
forensiese patoloe, kliniese assistente en mediese beamptes werksaam in 'n
Departement van Geregtelike Geneeskunde verbonde aan 'n universiteit. Staats-
Iykshuise word bestuur en beheer deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens. Daar
bestaan geen soortgelyke model vir die voorsiening van regsmediese dienste in
die res van die wereld nie.
Navorsing is gedoen deur vraelyste uit te stuur aan 200 verteenwoordigende
regslui (wat insluit regters/landdroste, staatsaanklaers, privaat regslui) en aan
Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens-ondersoekbeamptes in die Wes Kaap. Die reg, as
verbruikers van regsmediese dienste is gekies om 'n opinie uit te spreek oor die
doeltreffendheid van forensiese post mortems. Die vraelyste is gestruktureer
om die algemene tevredenheid en opinies en kommentaar te bekom oor nege
verskillende aangeleenthede rakend die forensiese post mortem, nl. deeglikheid
en volledigheid van verslae, standaard van akademiese kennis, effektiwiteit van
verbale getuienisaflegging in die hof, tydsverloop vir lewering van verslae,
houding en gesindheid van medici, doeltreffendheid van sketse en diagram me,
effektiewe gebruik van fotografie, effektiewe gebruik van toksikologiese
ondersoeke, effektiewe gebruik van spesiale ondersoeke, asook 'n algemene oop
vraag vir kommentaar oor probleemareas.
Daar word vervolgens vir elke aangeleentheid bepaal of daar 'n verskil in
effektiwiteit opgelet word tussen twee mediese subgroepe, en indien wei watter
groep meer effektief funksioneer. Verder sal nagegaan word of die regsproses
geaffekteer word deur enige van bogenoemde bevindinge.
'n Verskillende vraelys is uitgestuur aan aile geregtelike patoloe in die Wes-Kaap.
Hiermee word die standaard van die werk van distriksgeneeshere beoordeel.
Kommentaar is gevra oor akademiese kennis met betrekking tot geregtelike post
mortems en oor bevindinge gemaak deur distriksgeneeshere by post mortems.
Daar word ook gevra oor die algemene houding van distriksgeneeshere, asook
vir voorstelle vir voortgesette onderrigsprogramme. 'n Oop vraag is gestel vir
kommentaar oor probleemareas.
Uit die response is die volgende gevolgtrekkings gemaak:
a. Die regslui in die Wes-Kaap is oor die algemeen tevrede met die diens
gelewer met betrekking tot geregtelike post mortems, met uitsondering
van die effektiwiteit van laboratoriumondersoeke, en ook oor die tydsverloop
tussen die doen van post mortem en die vrystel van die verslae.
b. Die regslui kon 'n verskil bepaal in die graad van effektiwiteit van post
mortems gedoen deur distriksgeneeshere en opleidingssentra-personeel.
Opleidingssentra-personeel is deur die meerderheid van respondente
identifiseer as meer effektief.
c. Die verskil tussen die twee groepe, a.g.v. oneffektiewe distriksgeneesheer
post mortems, het 'n negatiewe effek op die regsproses.
Aanbevelings is gemaak om die sisteem te verbeter:
a. Opleidingssentra-personeel: Die uitplasing van gekwalifiseerde forensiese
patoloe in die platteland moet oorweeg word. Opleidingssentrapersoneel
kan ook meer betrokke wees by opleiding van distriksgeneeshere.
b. Distriksgeneeshere: Aandag moet gegee word aan die opleiding,
heropleiding en voortgesette geneeskundige onderrig van distriksgeneeshere
in die Wes-Kaap. Die werksomstandighede waaronder hulle
diens lewer moet ook aangespreek word.
C. Administratief: Ouditering van post mortem verslae. Ouditering van
effektiwiteit van hofverskynings, in assosiasie met die Departement van
Justisie. Admininistratiewe wilskrag sal ook essensieel wees by
implementering van bogenoemde voorstelle.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52386 |
| Date | January 2001 |
| Creators | Pienaar, J. P. |
| Contributors | Brouwer, I. G., Barnes, J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences. Dept. of Pathology. Forensic Medicine. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | af_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 v. (various pagings) : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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