Saayman G, van Oosten F F
Department of Anatomical Pathology, South African Institute for Medical Research, Johannesburg.
Med Law. 1994;13(1-2):129-32.
Forensic medical services in South Africa are rendered by state-employed district surgeons and forensic pathologists, who are obliged to utilize the physical infrastructure and personnel of the South African Police in their examinations. Recent highly publicized incidents have (again) highlighted the alleged involvement of the South African Police and/or state security forces in political killings and deaths in custody. The perception has arisen that the South African Police is often a party to a dispute and yet may have virtually unlimited access to evidence and findings, thereby gaining unfair advantage and opportunity for prejudicing the eventual outcome of the investigation. Furthermore, the perceived allegiance (and even possible subservience) of doctors to the South African Police has tarnished the reputation of forensic medical practitioners in this country. It is imperative that the public and the courts perceive the rendering of medicolegal services to be independent and scientifically objective. A model is proposed for the restructuring of medicolegal services in South Africa so as to be autonomous and without the integral involvement of the South African Police. Regard should be had to the opportunity for change now presenting itself in South Africa.
南非的法医服务由国家雇佣的地区外科医生和法医病理学家提供，他们在检查过程中必须利用南非警方的物质设施和人员。最近备受瞩目的事件（再次）凸显了南非警方和/或国家安全部队被指控参与政治杀戮和羁押期间死亡事件。人们产生了一种看法，即南非警方常常是争端的一方，但却几乎可以不受限制地获取证据和调查结果，从而获得不公平的优势和影响调查最终结果的机会。此外，人们认为医生效忠于南非警方（甚至可能是屈从），这损害了该国法医从业者的声誉。至关重要的是，公众和法院应认为法医服务的提供是独立且科学客观的。本文提出了一个南非法医服务重组模式，使其能够自主运作，且南非警方不参与其中。应该考虑到南非目前出现的变革机遇。
