oikeuslääketieteellinen

Oikeuslääketieteellinen is a term describing things related to forensic medicine. The field, also known as oikeuslääketiede, applies medical knowledge to legal questions, supporting investigations and courts. Its aim is to establish medically verifiable facts relevant to crimes, accidents, or civil matters.

Typical activities include autopsies (ruumiinavaus) and post-mortem examination to determine the cause and manner of death; assessment of injuries and trauma; identification of persons; toxicology and forensic chemistry; analysis of DNA and other trace evidence; and the preparation of expert reports and testimony. In living persons, clinical forensic medicine covers examinations after assault, sexual violence, or other incidents to document findings for medical and legal use.

In Finland, forensic medicine is practiced by physicians who specialize in this field. They work in hospital or university pathology units, police and prosecution services, and court settings, providing opinions that can influence investigations and judicial decisions. The term "oikeuslääketieteellinen" appears in reports, examinations, and discussions describing methods or findings tied to forensic medicine.

The discipline emphasizes scientific rigor, documentation and chain of custody, and clear communication of uncertainty. It overlaps with forensic pathology, toxicology, genetics, anthropology, and ethics, and it operates at the intersection of medicine and law to support accountability and the search for truth in legal processes.