| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Legal and forensic medicine |
| Editors | Roy G. Beran |
| Place of Publication | Berlin |
| Publisher | Springer-Verlag London Ltd. |
| Pages | 193-196 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9783642323386 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9783642323379 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2013 |
Abstract
The teaching of legal medicine in Australia is a relatively new phenomenon. Clinical education of health professionals has encompassed legal concepts in only a few select disciplines including psychiatry, obstetrics, and surgery. Along with the increasing need for a sound basis of such teaching, a disturbing trend toward “defensive medicine” has emerged. These dual imperatives have culminated in the formation of dedicated courses in legal medicine for undergraduate students by a select few universities. Alongside this a professional interdisciplinary college, the Australian College of Legal Medicine was formed to address the above deficit in teaching at a postgraduate level. The college has run several successful programs including Basic and Expert Law Intensives across Australasia. Given the ever-increasing relevance of law in medicine, such courses are becoming increasingly relevant and likely to be mandatory teaching for all health practitioners in years to come.