units

FOR5015

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

18 September 2017 27 July 2024

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This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 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.

Monash University

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

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

Faculty

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Organisational Unit

Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine

Coordinator(s)

Dr Richard Bassed

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.

Offered

Not offered in 2016

Synopsis

The primary function of Forensic Odontology is to identify unknown deceased individuals who cannot be visually recognized by close family members.
Forensic Odontology practitioners require expert knowledge in areas including; post-mortem examination technique, ante-mortem record interpretation and transposition, specialized post-mortem imaging methods, and cranio-facial superimposition techniques.
The aim of this unit is to provide students with a thorough understanding of the standard methods involved in post-mortem dental examination techniques leading to the identification of unknown deceased individuals.
The unit is designed to provide practicing dentists with the required knowledge and skills so that they will be able to conduct a standard forensic identification case from the beginning to its completion.


Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Confidently follow and apply relevant mortuary protocols and practice - giving specific consideration to OH&S issues and requirements;
  2. Perform dental post-mortem examinations using appropriate techniques, including standard and advanced imaging modalities;
  3. Analyse the techniques involved in ante-mortem record collection and interpretation methods specifically related to dental issues;
  4. Correctly interpret the Interpol DVI guidelines and comprehend the complex issues involved in reconciliation of ante-mortem and post-mortem data using the Interpol standard forms;
  5. Accurately describe and report on injuries to the teeth, cranio-facial skeleton, and soft tissues of the face;
  6. Evaluate the role of other mortuary based identification methods, such as molecular biology, fingerprints, the weight given to circumstantial evidence, and cranio-facial superimposition.

Assessment

Assignment (20%)
Case studies (30%)
Oral presentation (20%)
Case book (30%)

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Richard Bassed

Off-campus attendance requirements

Compulsory 2 day workshop.

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

Forensic medicine

Co-requisites

FOR4001, FOR4002, FOR4003, FOR5014

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

postgrad.courses@vifm.org