LEGAL MEDICINE**

Course Outline

I. General Concepts
Rules of Court, Rule 138 5
A. Definitions
1. Legal Medicine
2. Medical Jurisprudence
3. Forensic Science
a. Forensic entomology
b. Forensic ontology
c. Forensic anthropology
d. Forensic toxicology
e. Forensic Chemistry
f. Forensic Computer Science
4. Forensic Medicine
a. Clinical Forensic Medicine
b. Forensic Pathology
c. Forensic Psychiatry
d. Autopsy
Code on Sanitation, P.D. 856 95 (1975)
B. Scope and Significance
1. Application of Medical Science to Law
2. Application of Legal Principles to Medicine
- Current Laws relevant to Medicine and Allied Medical Science
C. Forensics in the Philippines Agencies concerned with forensic investigations

II. Medical Science and the Law

A. Birth (Civil Code art. 40, 41)
1. Abortion
2. Infanticide
B. Capacity to Act/ Limitations on Capacity to Act (NCC art. 38, 39)
1. Sex
Republic vs. Cagandahan, 565 SCRA 72(2008)
2. Age
a. Minority
b. Old Age
3. Deaf Mute
People vs. Parazo, 310 SCRA 146(1999)
4. Mental State
a. Imbecility
b. Insanity/Unsound Mind - People vs. Aquino, 322 SCRA 769(2000)
c. Psychological Incapacity Antonio vs. Reyes, 484 SCRA 353, March 10, 2006
d. Battered Woman Syndrome - People vs. Genosa, 419 SCRA 537(2004)
C. Filiation (Family Code, art. 164, 166)
1. Physical Causes
2. Serious Illness

3. Biological/Scientific Reasons
Rule on DNA Evidence 9(c)
D. Marriage (Family Code art. 45, 46)
1. Sexually Transmitted Disease, Curable, Incurable
2. Impotency, Sterility
3. Pregnancy
4. Drug Addiction and Alcoholism
III. Crime Scene Investigation
A. Definitions
1. Criminal Investigation
2. Crime Scene Investigation
B. Crime Scene Investigation
1. Guiding Principles
2. Overview of Crime Scene Investigation
a. Securing and initial management of the Crime Scene
b. Documentation
c. Walk Through and Crime Scene Search
d. Obtaining and Processing Evidence

1
 (1) Blood Spatter
(2) DNA Evidence
Evidence - People vs. Velarde, 384 SCRA 646, July 18, 2002
DNA - People vs. Yatar, 428 SCRA 504, May 19, 2004

IV. Death Investigation

A. Death - "Organ Donation Act of 1991." Sec. 2 (j), 9
B. Investigation of Death
1. Fact of Death
2. Identification
3. Time of Death People vs. Seranilla, 348 SCRA 227, December 15, 2000
a. Rigor mortis
b. Algor mortis
c. Livor mortis
d. Stages of Digestion
4. Cause of Death
a. Suicide - People vs. Operaa, Jr., 343 SCRA 43, October 13, 2000
b. Death Certificate

V. Physical Injuries
A. Wounds
1. Type of Wounds
2. Stab Wounds
3. Gun Shot Wounds
B. Physical Injuries
C. Automotive Crash or Accident

VI. Child Abuse and Sexual Crimes

A. Child Abuse
Sanchez vs. People, 588 SCRA 747(2009)
R.A. No. 7610
B. Sex Crimes

VII. Examination of Witness

A. Deception Detection
People v. Adoviso - 309 SCRA 1(1999)
B. Examination of Child Witness
Rule on Examination of Child Witness

C. Examination of Victims of Abuse

Republic Act No. 9262, Sections 29, 35, 40 R.A. No. 8505
Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998
D. Examination of Expert Witness Expert Witness
Rule 130, Sec. 48-49

VIII. Medical Jurisprudence

A. Health Professions under PRC

B. Medical Privacy
1. Privileged Communication - Rules of Court, Rule 128 Sec. 24
2. Medical records
3. Specific Health Privacy Legislation
R.A. No. 8504 Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998": See 15-17, 30-
42
C. Physician Liability
D. Hospital Liability