Postgraduate - UnitFOR4006 - Non accidental injury in childhood

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL

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

Level	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational Unit	Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine
Offered	Southbank First semester 2014 (Off-campus)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Jennifer Smith

Quota applies

This unit is quota restricted. Selection is on a first-in, first enrolled basis. For further information please contact the Postgraduate Course Administrator via email postgrad.courses@vifm.org or phone 03 9684 4115.

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.

Outcomes

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

Assessment

Assignment 1 - Questions: 20%
Assignment 2 - Case critique: 20%
Face to face teaching & case presentation: 10%
Essay: 50%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Jennifer 'Anne' Smith

Off-campus attendance requirements

Compulsory 2 day workshop

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

Forensic medicine

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.

Prohibitions

FOR2006 Paediatric Forensic Medicine

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

postgrad.courses@vifm.org