Return to normal view

Forensic Medicine

The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) was created as a result of the Coroners Act 1985. Its role is to provide, promote, and assist with forensic pathology and related services in Victoria, and in the postgraduate instruction and training of specialist forensic pathologists.

The Institute also provides training facilities for doctors, medical undergraduates and others, allowing it to provide specialist services and conduct research in the fields of forensic pathology, forensic science, clinical forensic medicine and associated fields.

Forensic services include:

• toxicology services - analysing drugs and poisons in biological tissues
• clinical liaison - determining possible adverse events in health care institutions and addressing system factors that cause or contribute to these events through advice to the state coroners
• entomology - insect identification and the interpretation of insect evidence
• forensic anthropology - helping to determine the provenance and identity of unknown skeletal remains
• forensic odontology - assisting in the identification of the deceased through study of the teeth.