Open AccessINDIGENCE OF FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY IN LEGAL PRACTICE OF PAKISTAN
Author(s) -
Hashim Bin Mansoor,
Usman Zafar Kayani,
Reeja Khatoon,
Erum Idrees,
Hira Zafar Kayani,
Ayesha Aslam
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
pakistan armed forces medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2411-8842
pISSN - 0030-9648
DOI - 10.51253/pafmj.v71i5.5044
Subject(s) - forensic odontology , forensic science , snowball sampling , medicine , sampling frame , population , family medicine , dentistry , environmental health , veterinary medicine , pathology
Objective: To assess and interpret the utility and need of forensic dentistry in current judicial system of Pakistan.
Study Design: Cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, in the month of Jun, 2020.
Methodology: This questionnaire based cross-sectional study was conducted in a 1-month time frame, and a sample of 100 lawyers was recruited using snowball sampling technique and only criminal lawyers were included which had a minimum of 5 years of experience. Data was analyzed using SPSS-24.
Results: The results were quite significant, 81% (81 lawyers) of the population recognized the relationship of forensic dentistry with criminal litigation (p-value=0.006). Furthermore 86% (86 lawyers) believed that there are a limited number of practicing forensic dentists and a massive 96% (96 lawyers) of the population was not able to acquire the expertise of a forensic dentist.
Conclusion: There is a major lack of trained forensic odontologists and training institutes in Pakistan, which has a significant effect on the legal practices of Pakistan. Furthermore, it defines the lack of specialization trend in forensic odontology.