Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2012;40(1):81-8.
In 2005, the Chief Coroner of Ontario instituted a review into 45 cases of criminally suspicious child deaths about which a prominent pediatric forensic pathologist had expressed an opinion that the cause was homicide. Subsequently, a provincial inquiry was called to review the practice and oversight of pediatric forensic pathology in Ontario and to make recommendations to restore and enhance public confidence in forensic pathology. Recommendations from the inquiry addressed medical subspecialization, the evidentiary basis for expert opinion, oversight of the profession, and development of best forensic practices. Although the inquiry focused on pathologists, it is clear that these recommendations have significant implications for all forensic professions, including forensic psychiatry. This article summarizes the inquiry report and considers the potentially important implications for forensic psychiatry.
2005 年，安大略省首席法医对 45 起犯罪嫌疑的儿童死亡案件进行了审查，一位著名的儿科法医病理学家曾表示，这些案件的死因是杀人。随后，进行了省级调查，以审查安大略省儿科法医病理学的实践和监督情况，并提出建议，以恢复和增强公众对法医学的信心。调查建议涉及医学亚专科、专家意见的证据基础、专业监督以及最佳法医实践的发展。尽管调查的重点是病理学家，但很明显，这些建议对包括法医精神病学在内的所有法医学专业都具有重要意义。本文总结了调查报告，并考虑了对法医精神病学可能具有重要意义的建议。
