INVESTIGATION REPORT OF FORENSIC FILE ARCHIVES OF ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF DENTISTRY: FORENSIC DENTAL REPORT FORM PROPOSAL

Abstract

In the literature, sufficient retrospective ami descriptive researches related to forensic denial cases reflected to Dentistry Faculties do not exist. The aim of this study is to discuss the results of 925 investigated forensic files, recorded in the last 25 years, under the official approval of the Istanbul University Dentistry Faculty Dean and completed at the 100th anniversary of the Faculty's foundation. During investigation of the 925 recorded forensic file in our Faculty, between 22nd February 1984 and 31s' December 2008, it was found that 29,08% of the flies were trauma, 12,86% were malpractice, 32,86% were consisting of missing documents and 25,18% were related with the other subjects. This show s us that there should be fixed standards available for preparing a forensic file. In our investigation, we have also found that, 93,75% of the missing documents belonged to the period before 1992. After 2004, this ratio has been reduced to 1,97%. In our opinion the ISO 9001:2000 Certificate has caused this reduction. It wasn't possible for us to reach the records of 1989 - 1991. This also shows that keeping and protecting of the files arc as important as recording. On the other hand, according to the Turkish Penalty-Laws every maxillofacial trauma is punished with a different penalty. Therefore, we assume that a Standard Forensic Dental Report Form, like the forms used in the medical faculties must be prepared for dentistry applications. It will be more useful for not misleading the judge. As a result, a standard "Forensic Dental Report Form Proposal" which will be used in Dentistry Faculty's investigations of forensic cases has been prepared and presented as a proposal.