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Medicolegal Investigation

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Veterinary Forensic Pathology, Volume 1

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Abstract

Veterinary forensic medicine and pathology is a rapidly evolving and flourishing discipline within the field of veterinary medicine. Forensic medicine is the broad term used to encompass all aspects of medical work for use in a legal setting, while forensic pathology refers to the branch of forensic medicine that deals with death investigations. The societal impact of animal crime is gaining recognition by the criminal justice system and animal crimes are now being reported, investigated, and prosecuted. The primary role of the forensic veterinarian or veterinary pathologist is to conduct a separate, parallel, and independent investigation of a reported act of animal cruelty. The current system of veterinary forensic medicine lags behind the medicolegal system currently in place for human death investigations, although this system is rapidly developing and advancing.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forensic Sciences and Anti-Cruelty Projects, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York, NY, USA

    Rachel Touroo D.V.M., Randall Lockwood Ph.D. & Robert Reisman D.V.M.

  2. Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Rachel Touroo D.V.M.

  3. Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Jason W. Brooks V.M.D., Ph.D., D.A.C.V.P.

Authors
  1. Rachel Touroo D.V.M.
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  2. Jason W. Brooks V.M.D., Ph.D., D.A.C.V.P.
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  3. Randall Lockwood Ph.D.
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  4. Robert Reisman D.V.M.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jason W. Brooks V.M.D., Ph.D., D.A.C.V.P. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Jason W. Brooks

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Touroo, R., Brooks, J.W., Lockwood, R., Reisman, R. (2018). Medicolegal Investigation. In: Brooks, J. (eds) Veterinary Forensic Pathology, Volume 1. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67172-7_1

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