08 • Careers
WORKING WITHIN
HE role of forensic physician is becoming an increasingly popular choice amongst GPs. The work is varied and challenging and brings doctors into contact with some of society’s most demanding
in court as a professional witness, writing statements and carrying out examinations on vulnerable patients including victims of sexual assault.
THE LAW T
Being a forensic physician is challenging and often involves long hours, but it’s a role ideally suited to GPs
The FFLM can provide more in-depth
information to doctors who are interested in working within the specialty.
patients. General practice training is ideal for forensic work due to the varied skills and patient types involved. The bulk of a forensic physician’s workload
will concern the care of people who are detained in police custody where a doctor is required to determine fitness to be detained or fitness to be interviewed. It often means dealing with people who have drink or drug addiction problems.
Along with this standard custodial work,
forensic physicians (FPs) will be expected to develop expertise in the documentation and interpretation of injury. They will be called upon to examine and provide medical treatment to victims of assault and those individuals who find themselves in police custody. Many FPs in the UK practise clinical forensic medicine part-time, in addition to normal general practice, and much of it is based around a duty system that often involves anti-social hours. The job is not for the faint-hearted as FPs will inevitably find themselves giving evidence
Training The new Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (FFLM), part of the Royal College of Physicians, has a remit to set minimum standards for forensic practice in the UK, which still vary significantly. No prior experience or formal training is
required to apply for a post as forensic physician, but competition is fierce so you will have to be persistent. Training usually involves shadowing and attendance at a recognised in-house training course such as the twice- yearly residential course in Durham run by the NPIA (National Police Improvement Agency). Bear in mind if you are full time, you will improve skills in some areas, but won’t be doing much in other specialties such as paediatrics or gynaecology. Last year the government announced plans
to close the publically funded Forensic Science Service and for the work to be carried out by private forensics companies from March 2012. Under these new arrangements, it is likely that doctors will need a postgraduate qualification for their area(s) of work, but currently that is not the case.
In practice To do this work a non-judgmental attitude is a must – you will come into contact with the most vulnerable and sometimes the most challenging patients in society. The work can be demanding as it will inevitably mean attendance at magistrate’s, crown and/ or coroner’s/sheriff court, but with a bit of experience the nerves should settle. You may be challenged by patients, doctors,
police or solicitors so you will need to feel comfortable explaining and giving opinions, whether it is a normal day at work or in a legal setting. Statement writing is a regular part of the workload, so being organised and timely with deadlines is important. An interest in mental health, substance misuse or ethics is beneficial but not essential. Clinical forensic work encompasses many
areas including custody work where FPs, formerly known as police surgeons, carry out sexual offences examinations (for victims), visit prisons and treat patients with substance misuse problems. Typically, around 85 per cent of a forensic physician’s workload concerns custodial work
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