Forensic Medicine comprises that branch of medicine that deals with the application of medical science to questions of law. Historically, the scope of this discipline was restricted to pathologists' investigations to establish the causes of death and to identify the physical consequences of traumatic injuries resulting from accidents or violent crimes. However, in the past several decades, changing concepts of liability and expanding interrelationships of law and medicine have vastly increased the number and scope of medical issues that must be resolved by the courts and administrative agencies. Today, many members of the legal profession and the judiciary must be familiar with the forensic counterpart of every clinical specialry and subspecialty to adjudicate properly the myriad of medicolegal problems presented to them in the course of their professional activities.

To assist physicians called upon to perform medical evaluations specifically for legal and insurance purposes, attorneys who prosecute and defend such claims, and insurance company personnel and adjudicators who must resolve disputed medical issues, MEDICOLEGAL NEWS presents this ongoing series on Forensic Medicine. Of necessity, an interdisciplinary approach has been taken in covering the subject matter. Accordingly, members of a given profession may, at times, find that some of the material is presented in a somewhat elementary manner and, in such instances, we ask indulgence.