Forensic Medicine
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Forensic Imaging
Our forensic imaging service includes the specialties of forensic radiology and forensic photography.
Forensic Radiology
Forensic Radiology is a specialised area of medical imaging using radiological techniques to assist pathologists and anthropologists in determining cause of death or identifying remains.
Forensic Photography
The role of our specialist forensic photographers is to document injuries and diseases, and provide front line support to pathologists and clinical forensic medical service staff. Forensic photographers work with the deceased, as well as living patients to produce a visual case record to bolster the brief of evidence for the coroner and the police.
Each month in excess of 5,000 images are produced across the disciplines. In addition to this on-site service at the Institute, our forensic photographers provide external training to forensic specialists, including pathologists, forensic medical officers and police to enable the production of high quality photographic evidence.
Forensic radiology is an intrinsic part of every death investigation and is a key component of the preliminary examination procedure. Since the installation of a CT scanner in 2005 in the VIFM mortuary, all deceased persons have undergone a post-mortem CT scan at the time of admission to the facility. The images are used to inform, and in some cases, negate the need for a forensic autopsy. The VIFM is recognised as one of the world’s leading practitioners of post-mortem imaging and has added post-mortem CT scan images to the portfolio of visual aids used to illustrate death investigation findings for the courts.