The Virtopsy Approach: 3D Optical and Radiological Scanning and Reconstruction in Forensic Medicine PDF

Preface

(R)EVOLUTION IN FORENSIC MEDICINE

Forensic medicine is an important endeavor with great significance in public society. Ultimately, the forensic standard defines the status quo of the rule of law.

In his 1998 book Forensic Radiology, Gil Brogdon wrote that there is no definition or standard for forensic radiology. There is also no specialization or training fellowship in this field; there is no Society for Forensic Radiology and no subdiscipline. Similar to how the forensic disciplines of chemistry, toxicology, and molecular biology have risen in the last century in the traditional fields of clinical forensic medicine and postmortem forensic medicine, a change process has begun in that, with modern imaging procedures, added value and quality improvement could be engendered. In the past few years the transdisciplinary international Virtopsy Team of the University of Bern has brought about numerous publications in this area. We have been approached from many sides to summarize our knowledge. The first attempt in this direction has resulted this book. Statements about the future are difficult to make, but it is indisputable that imaging procedures will take on a rapidly increasing importance within all of forensic medicine. Whether with the so-called virtopsy approach is an evolution or a revolution in forensic science, the reader will ultimately have to decide for him- or herself, based on his or her observations of the coming developments in this field.