Generally, medical assessments are necessary to inform the medical practitioner about your state of health, and this helps in the decision-making process. While medico-legal assessment is a different form of checkup, its main objective is to provide the information needed in a criminal or civil case. For instance, when a worker gets injured at work, a medico-legal assessment gathers information on the nature of the injury, and this can help provide evidence in the workers‘ compensation case. Per the Journal of Medical Society, some of the other cases that require medico legal assessments include:
Sexual Assault
While more than half of the sexual assault incidences go unreported in the US, there are a few false rape allegations too, as per the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). This means that evidence is crucial in such cases. As such, rape victims undergo medical examinations to back their allegations and hence, pursue justice.
Poisoning
Be it food poisoning or unintentional consumption of any other harmful substance, the U.S. Department of Justice takes this as a legal matter. For example, if you get food poisoning at a restaurant, you are free to sue the management for compensation. As such, the court will ask you to undergo a medico-legal examination to identify the injurious agents in your system as well as gather evidence for your case.
Injuries and Burns
Regardless of the cause of the injuries or burns, a medical assessment is necessary. This is because, while some injuries are accidental, others are foul play, and may require a legal investigation.
Self-Infliction or Attempted Suicide
While suicide is not a crime in the US, attempted suicide can be prosecuted in some states, as published in the Washington Post. This means that in case you self-inflict or attempt suicide, a medical examination may be required to determine the extent of the injuries as well as provide evidence for your case.
Criminal Abortion
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, abortion is illegal in some U.S. states. Additionally, the parties assisting in criminal abortion are also liable for the repercussions. Even worse, the death of the mother as a result of criminal abortion is considered a homicide. This means that any case involving illegal abortion requires a medico-legal assessment.
Conclusion
Medico-legal assessments provide medical evidence that can help the prosecution to build a case against the perpetrators, if any. These assessments enable the American criminal justice system to put criminals behind bars, release innocent suspects, and compensate victims.