The forensic medical evaluation of medical malpractice claims in the field of medical pathology.

Just like in other medical specialties, medical malpractice claims arise in pathology as well. Although the exact rate of malpractice related to pathology cannot be clearly stated in Turkey, it is known to occur more frequently during the diagnosis stage, as reported worldwide. This study discusses the measures that should be taken to prevent these claims by comparing cases with alleged malpractice in pathology, evaluated by the Council of Forensic Medicine, with the literature.

Sexually transmitted infections in sexually abused children: an audit project to implement PCR tests in a child advocacy center in Türkiye.

Background: Sexual abuse in children can sometimes result in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which can serve as crucial forensic evidence. Although PCR methods are now accepted as the gold standard for STI screening, they have not yet widely replaced traditional culture methods in Türkiye. This study aims to assess the necessity of implementing PCR-based STI testing at Child Advocacy Centers in Türkiye, where such testing is not routinely available.

Abusive head trauma: two cases and mini-review of the current literature.

Background: Abusive head trauma (AHT) is the leading cause of fatal head injuries and are responsible for more than half of serious or fatal traumatic brain injury cases in children younger than 2 years of age. Long-term outcomes of AHT are death, spastic hemiplegia or quadriplegia, intractable epilepsy, microcephaly with corticosubcortical atrophy, visual impairment, language disorder and cognitive, behavioral and sleep disorders.

Cases: Herein we present two cases of AHT (7-month-old boy, 7-month-old girl) according to forensic analysis, and discuss them in light of the current literature and share our experience.

The relationship between subjective experience of childhood abuse and neglect and depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

Introduction: Childhood abuse and neglect have devastating effects in adulthood such as depression. During pregnancy, depression's effects in women have great importance due to its serious consequences for both children and families. It is aimed to find out a relationship between childhood abuse/neglect and depression among pregnant women.

Risk factors for violence against women by intimate partners in Sakarya, Turkey.

Objectives: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important public health problem in many countries including Turkey, with serious short- and long-term physical and mental health consequences, as well as significant social and public health costs. To understand the violence characteristics and the individual risk factors for both the married women victims and the perpetrator partners are the objectives of this study.

Methodology: 243 married women, who have consulted to hospitals and village clinics between 2008 and 2009 with the mean age of 36.

Effects of some of the regional Turkish fermented foods and medications on respiratory alcohol levels.

Background/aim: Alcohols are used in many areas like medicine and industry. They may be naturally found in some fruits and vegetables secondary to fermentation. According to the traffic law in Turkey, professional drivers are prohibited from driving while they are under the influence of alcohol; nonprofessional drivers are allowed to drive vehicles with a blood alcohol level of up to 50 mg/dL.

Child abuse and neglect in Turkey: professional, governmental and non-governmental achievements in improving the national child protection system.

Since ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1995, significant efforts were made in Turkey to improve protection of children from abuse and neglect. The government took steps to amend relevant laws. Several state departments recognized the need for professional in-service training of relevant governmental agency staff.

Histopathological differentiation of skin lesions caused by electrocution, flame burns and abrasion.

The aim of this study was to reveal histopathological features for differential diagnosis of skin lesions caused by electrocution, flames and abrasions. Based on the causes of the lesions, cases were assigned into three groups. Group 1 included 30 deaths from electric shock.

Intracranial sewing needle in a man with seizure: a case of child abuse?

Physical abuse in infancy can cause persistent neurological deficits. Although intracranial foreign bodies are generally secondary to penetrating trauma or surgical procedures, rarely they also occur as a result of child abuse. A 32-year-old man presented with the complaint of generalized tonic clonic seizures to the Neurology Department of Marmara, University Hospital.

Deaths from drug overdose and toxicity in Turkey: 1997-2001.

Turkey is located on the main overland connection between Asia and Europe, making the country potentially vulnerable to drug trafficking and its associated harms. The aim of the present study is to explore the frequency of all deaths from drug overdose and toxicity in Turkey and to describe some of the characteristics of these deaths. We collected data on all deaths from drugs in Turkey between 1997 and 2001 using records from the Council of Forensic Medicine.

Acute pesticide poisoning related deaths in Turkey.

This study determined the spectrum of deaths due to acute agrochemical poisoning in Turkey. Data was obtained from all autopsy reports performed between 1997 and 2001, compiled by the Institute of Forensic Medicine (which is a department of the Ministry of Justice), and evaluated retrospectively. There were 3990 deaths by intoxication of one form or another.