Ethical reflections in legal medicine and forensic medical expertise: looking beyond the norm.

Abstract

Forensic medical expertise, as an expression of legal medicine, is ethically distinct from the traditional Hippocratic model of clinical care. Its moral framework must be adapted to the specific purpose of informing administrative, legal, and governmental decisions, thereby contributing to social equity. Drawing on both printed literature and digital database research, this article reflects on the dynamics of the physician-patient relationship - i.e., between the medical examiner and the examinee - and the role of the expert within the context of social justice. It argues that the expert's conduct should extend beyond a strictly normative deontology or a pragmatic utilitarian approach and be also guided by the virtues of character. In doing so, forensic experts can uphold both the quality standards required by modern medicine and the enduring values of the medical profession.