Monash University Handbook 2011 Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

Paediatric forensic medicine encompasses the medico-legal issues arising from the provision of a medical service to children. The unit will largely focus on developing practitioners' skills required for the medical assessment of cases of suspected non-accidental injury in children.
Such assessments require knowledge of the relevant legislation, injury patterns, specialised investigative techniques, documentation and interpretation. Teaching will focus on trauma and forensic principles, childhood development, injury patterns (both accidental and non-accidental), medical conditions that may mimic injurious events presentation of findings and opinions to the courts.

Objectives

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of injury assessment;
2. Develop the skills required for accurate documentation - notes, diagrams and photography;
3. Have a comprehensive knowledge of common injury patterns at the different stages of a child's development;
4. Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of non-accidental injury as it applies to bones, intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic trauma;
5. Discuss features of injuries of childhood both accidental and non-accidental;
6. Understand the process of assessing children when there are concerns of neglect

Assessment

This student will be expected to have developed a broad knowledge of the principles of paediatric forensic medicine and the skills required to analyse and interpret cases of suspected non-accidental injury in children.
The following assessment methods will be used:
Assignment. 1500 words in length - 30%
Case studies. 30%
Case book. 1000 words - 30%
Oral presentations. 10%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Anne Smith

Contact hours

12 hours of study per week over the Semester. This will include contact time (25 hours), private study (text and readings), assessment tasks (case studies, assignments), and involvement in case work, plus a compulsory 2 day workshop.

Off-campus attendance requirements

Off-campus (distance education) with a two-three day attendance block during the semester.

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

+ Forensic principles of injury assessment.+ Mechanisms of injury and healing.+ Documentation - notes, diagrams, photography+ Soft tissue injuries+ Fractures+ Intra-abdominal injuries+ Intra-thoracic injuries+ Thermal injuries+ Childhood neglect.

Prerequisites

A registered medical practitioner who is involved in assessing (or may be required to assess) children where there are concerns of non-accidental injury.

Co-requisites

Nil

Prohibitions

FOR2006 (Paediatric Forensic Medicine).

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.med.monash.edu.au/vifm/