CFM Services

Clinical Forensic Medicine is a medical specialty which deals with the interaction of clinical medicine and law. Clinical forensic medicine is principally concerned with the provision of clinical services and medical advice concerning the living particularly in the investigation of violent crimes and other offences.  Occasionally these services are also used to assist in the determination of medico-legal issues in civil cases.

The clinical services are many and varied and include the provision of opinions and teaching and research. Post-graduate programs in Forensic Medicine  and Forensic Nursing offered through Monash University and the VIFM are aimed at preparing practitioners for clinical forensic practice.

Clinical forensic medical services are provided in a range of areas described here. Additionally, a large number of services are provided at the request of Government departments or agencies.

Services:

	Clinical Forensic Medicine Forms		Examination proformas for forensic practitioners are available for downloading.
	Paediatric Forensic Medicine		Paediatric forensic medicine encompasses the areas of suspected non-accidental injury of children, sexual abuse and physical and emotional neglect.
	Adult Assault		CFM offers services to adult victims of physical and sexual assault. These include specialized examinations for evidentiary purposes, evidence collection, photography, injury interpretation, production of medical reports and presentation of medical evidence in court. There is also a growing responsibility for ongoing care and follow-up.
	Clinical Forensic Nursing Service		The forensic nurse provides a range of clinical services and works collaboratively with the forensic physicians. Other components of the role include education, research and service development such as the establishment of a network of nurses throughout Victoria.
	Traffic Medicine		Traffic medicine has evolved into a widening sub-specialty requiring close cooperation between policing, scientific, medical and technical groups. It encompasses assessment of fitness to drive, crash injury analysis and assessments of the effects of illness, alcohol and drugs on driving. CFM doctors conduct the only specialised Fitness to Drive clinic in Australia, at St Vincent's Hospital.
	Reviewable Death Investigations		Clinical Forensic physicians have a statutory role in the investigation of reviewable deaths in Victoria. These are cases where more than one child in a family has died.
	Academic Activities		CFM provides a number of courses.
	Police Ethical Standards Investigations and services to the Office of Police Integrity		Support to the investigations of an alleged assault by police has evolved to include clinical duties. Clinical Forensic practitioners are available to examine both alleged victims and perpetrators in these cases and provide unbiased opinions regarding injury causation and severity.
	Custodial Services		Clinical Forensic practitioners may be involved in the assessment of persons apprehended by the police, especially when there are concerns regarding the role of any medical or psychiatric conditions in criminal responsibility. An important and specialised area is the acute assessment of fitness to be interviewed.
	Consultancy Services		Clinical Forensic practitioners provide consultancy and supervisory services to many Australian and International jurisdictions. This includes provision of expert opinions in civil and criminal medico-legal cases, educational programs and support for forensic services in places where there is no provision for local backup.
	Assistance to Courts		Clinical Forensic practitioners provide a range of services to the courts including acute assessment of unwell participants and provision of expert opinion & evidence on medical matters when requested by Courts and other statutory bodies.
	Specialised Services		Clinical Forensic practitioners provide a range of specialised services including assistance with siege negotiations, medical liaison, workplace drug testing and others.