Medico-Legal JournalPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-19DOI: 10.1177/00258172251332485
Francisco Zarra, Marcos Rolando, Rubén Páramo Cardona, Walter Videtta
{"title":"Artificial intelligence in intensive care unit: Current ethical dilemmas.","authors":"Francisco Zarra, Marcos Rolando, Rubén Páramo Cardona, Walter Videtta","doi":"10.1177/00258172251332485","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00258172251332485","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The assessment of neurocritical patients may be complex; they are a vulnerable population, according to the Helsinki Declaration. Currently, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in critical care settings may pose a dilemma for medico-legal reasons (lack of legal liability, privacy of data protection, difficulty in accessing medical records in judicial proceedings, no official medical guidelines on critical care promoting its use, and others). This paper considers the ethical-legal issues regarding its current medical use.</p>","PeriodicalId":35529,"journal":{"name":"Medico-Legal Journal","volume":" ","pages":"195-197"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144883819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Medico-Legal JournalPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-03-28DOI: 10.1177/00258172251314974
Seyed M Saberi, Reza H Manouchehri, Hoda B Ardestani, Seyed A Mahdavi, Elham Bazmi
{"title":"Delusional disorder and criminal responsibility: A systematic review to help improve Iranian judicial perspectives.","authors":"Seyed M Saberi, Reza H Manouchehri, Hoda B Ardestani, Seyed A Mahdavi, Elham Bazmi","doi":"10.1177/00258172251314974","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00258172251314974","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Through a review of papers and study reports we researched different nations' approaches and views on patients with delusional disorder and looked at the liability of criminals with this disorder, in hope of finding a more appropriate approach, revision of law and creating fairer law regarding these cases in our country. We used PRISMA standards to select related papers from the following databases: Web of Science, Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, as well as SID and Irandoc (national databases). We found 10 cases of delusional disorder and folie à deux, whose process of the crime, geographical location and finally verdicts and sentences were clearly presented and discussed in the literature. Most societies have acquitted criminals with delusional disorder, based on an insanity verdict, and they are on parole or hospitalised for treatment. This could indicate a need for a more carefully diagnostic review and greater interaction between forensic psychiatrists and the courts in the Iranian judicial system.</p>","PeriodicalId":35529,"journal":{"name":"Medico-Legal Journal","volume":" ","pages":"216-223"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143731965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Medico-Legal JournalPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-05-21DOI: 10.1177/00258172251326425
Camilla Cecannecchia, Stefania De Simone, Francesco Orsini, Benedetta Baldari, Luigi Cipolloni, Andrea Cioffi
{"title":"A cruel case of homicide: Execution by carbonisation after sharp force trauma.","authors":"Camilla Cecannecchia, Stefania De Simone, Francesco Orsini, Benedetta Baldari, Luigi Cipolloni, Andrea Cioffi","doi":"10.1177/00258172251326425","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00258172251326425","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fire-related deaths are usually accidental; self-immolation is a rare means of suicide with fire-related homicides usually a consequence of arson or direct immolation. In homicide investigations, it is important to establish whether heat injuries occurred while the victim was still alive, particularly if traumatic injuries are also present. This assessment can have a significant impact on the offender's sentence, as forensic findings may explain aggravating circumstances. We present a case involving a partially charred body with sharp-force injuries to the neck. Through forensic examination, autopsy, and toxicological analysis, we concluded that the victim was first injured and then exposed to fire while still alive. These findings affected the determination of aggravating factors in the subsequent murder trial.</p>","PeriodicalId":35529,"journal":{"name":"Medico-Legal Journal","volume":" ","pages":"240-243"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144112027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Medico-Legal JournalPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-27DOI: 10.1177/00258172251336672
Maha Ghanem, Fatma M Elgazzar, Ayman A Hassan
{"title":"Prevalence and pattern of suspicious unexpected childhood deaths in Egypt: A five-year medico-legal study (2018-2022).","authors":"Maha Ghanem, Fatma M Elgazzar, Ayman A Hassan","doi":"10.1177/00258172251336672","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00258172251336672","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined autopsy records of suspicious unexpected childhood deaths. The cadavers included were of children investigated in the Zeinhom morgue in Cairo, Egypt, from 2018 to 2022. The data was analysed in respect of cause, manner of death, and the relationship between the pattern of death and the offender's relationship with the victim. Out of a total number of 9621 autopsies, 596 (6.2%) were children. Boys outnumbered girls (59.1% to 40.9%). The majority of deaths occurred in adolescence (195, 32.7%) and late childhood (142, 23.8%). Homicide and suicide were established in 20.1% and 6.9% of victims, with abuse and negligence established in 12.7%. The abuse was predominantly attributed to the bio-father (46.9%), followed by the stepfather (25%), The bio-father and family members were usually responsible for female violations, while the bio-mother was the main offender in cases of male victims.</p>","PeriodicalId":35529,"journal":{"name":"Medico-Legal Journal","volume":" ","pages":"198-205"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145379087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Medico-Legal JournalPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-30DOI: 10.1177/00258172251343845
Benjamin Andoh
{"title":"How mental patients leave hospital in England and Wales: A viewpoint.","authors":"Benjamin Andoh","doi":"10.1177/00258172251343845","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00258172251343845","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Contrary to what people generally assume, patients leave mental hospitals, not just <i>via</i> self-discharge (in the case of informal patients) or discharge by the hospital (responsible clinician, hospital managers, etc.). Rather, there are other modes of leaving hospital, such as being given leave of absence, absconding or going absent without leave and transfer to another hospital. This paper briefly looks at all these modes, according to whether they are temporary or permanent, unofficial or official.</p>","PeriodicalId":35529,"journal":{"name":"Medico-Legal Journal","volume":" ","pages":"209-211"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145402248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Medico-Legal JournalPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-18DOI: 10.1177/00258172251318470
Sossio Del Prete, Emanuela Asunis, Letizia Sorace, Tommaso Berloco, Marco Albore, Giorgio Bolino
{"title":"Adverse reaction to metal debris in a case series of hip arthroplasty: A future scenario for the allocation of liability between manufacturer and medical personnel.","authors":"Sossio Del Prete, Emanuela Asunis, Letizia Sorace, Tommaso Berloco, Marco Albore, Giorgio Bolino","doi":"10.1177/00258172251318470","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00258172251318470","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adverse reactions to metal debris are inflammatory-necrotic changes that can occur in individuals with joint prostheses, particularly hips. They are triggered by the release of metal debris at both the periprosthetic tissue level and systemically. This was internationally recognised by 2012: several recommendations followed. Patients were advised to undergo careful clinical, laboratory and radiological follow-up with the potential need for prosthetic revision surgery. Concurrently, the primary manufacturers issued safety notifications and began recalling some prosthetic devices from the market. Notwithstanding, prosthetic implants with metal components continue to be widely used due to their favourable risk-benefit profile. We examined the cases of three patients whose hip arthroplasty had metal-type implants. Following the development of adverse reactions to metal debris, they underwent early prosthetic revision and even surgery to remove the prosthesis and clean up metal debris. Consequently, the patients requested a medico-legal evaluation to obtain compensation for the damage suffered. The investigations conducted in these three cases resulted in different allocations of liability: one to the manufacturing company, one to the healthcare professionals who treated the patients, one shared by both. This illustrates that, even after the risk has been identified, it remains a pertinent issue and provides insight into potential future scenarios regarding professional liability cases of a similar nature.</p>","PeriodicalId":35529,"journal":{"name":"Medico-Legal Journal","volume":" ","pages":"227-232"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144875595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Medico-Legal JournalPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-30DOI: 10.1177/00258172251343843
Gabrielle Pendlebury
{"title":"How to survive a coroner's court: A clinician's guide.","authors":"Gabrielle Pendlebury","doi":"10.1177/00258172251343843","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00258172251343843","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35529,"journal":{"name":"Medico-Legal Journal","volume":" ","pages":"177-183"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145402239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Medico-Legal JournalPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-15DOI: 10.1177/00258172251336675
John F Mayberry, Affifa Farrukh
{"title":"Inflammatory bowel disease nurses and negligent care.","authors":"John F Mayberry, Affifa Farrukh","doi":"10.1177/00258172251336675","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00258172251336675","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>During the last 30 years inflammatory bowel disease specialist nurses have become commonplace throughout the United Kingdom. These days they play a very significant role in the day-to-day management of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. They provide advice on the telephone, run out-patient clinics, administer biologic therapies and provide support to inpatients. However, there are no mandatory training programmes or required accreditation to specifically support these activities. As a result of these clinical roles, IBD nurses are now commonly involved in cases of alleged clinical negligence and questions arise to their independent practice and to whom they are directly responsible. This paper reviews these issues in some detail.</p>","PeriodicalId":35529,"journal":{"name":"Medico-Legal Journal","volume":" ","pages":"206-208"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145303730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Medico-Legal JournalPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-12-04DOI: 10.1177/00258172251381016
Eleanor Jane Turner
{"title":"Editorial for 2025 Part 4: Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board: A decade of impact on medical consent.","authors":"Eleanor Jane Turner","doi":"10.1177/00258172251381016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00258172251381016","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35529,"journal":{"name":"Medico-Legal Journal","volume":"93 4","pages":"171"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145670180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}