Course Overview
In Canada, forensic health care and forensic nursing are emerging as a new concepts in both health care and areas where medical and legal issues overlap. This course will provide health care and allied health professionals, and criminal justice and other professions whose work intersects with components of the healthcare system with a foundation in the forensic health sciences and its application to clinical practice in Canada. The Criminal Code of Canada, provincial and federal laws will be discussed pertaining to individuals who may be the victim of non-intentional or intentional injuries or trauma, crime and violence. The specific areas of sexual violence and abuse, death investigation, child and elder maltreatment, interpersonal violence, drug and alcohol use and forensic psychiatrics/corrections will be described with respect to the forensic roles and responsibilities of professionals who work in the field of forensic health sciences. Recognition, collection and preservation of evidence and medicolegal documentation will be examined. The interlinking roles of forensic science, law enforcement, judicial and health care professionals are defined and explored as related to health care today and in the future. Instructors are industry experts from within healthcare, law enforcement, criminal justice and forensic sciences. Students will complete individual assignments and also work in groups to analyze data.
Prerequisite(s)
- No prerequisites are required for this course.
Credits
3.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Differentiate the roles of forensic examiner; health care professionals, law enforcement, and the judicial system in the field of forensic health sciences.
- Differentiate the use of forensic science in both the investigation and care of victims and perpetrators of trauma, crime or violence.
- Evaluate vicarious trauma, the hidden symptoms of burnout and ethical issues in forensic examinations.
- Analyze the professional working relationships for the multi-disciplinary teams needed to provide comprehensive forensic care to victims of trauma, crime and violence.
- Assess the interactions of the multidisciplinary forensic investigative disciplines including nursing, medicine, forensic science, investigative agencies and the judicial system.
- Evaluate the emerging application of forensic health sciences and the forensic nursing specialty in forensic health care or other areas where medical and legal issues overlap.
- Describe clinical forensic processes, forensic technologies, forensic investigative techniques and their application to practice.
- Interpret current standards and scope of practice for the forensic health care professional.
- Analyze Canadian laws which impact the clinical practice of the forensic examiner and health care professionals.
Effective as of Fall 2018
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.