Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Class, Form321, KSU
Forensic Medicine & toxicology
King Saud University
College of Medicine
Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
FORM 321
2011-2012
Forensic Medicine and Toxicology - male and female students
Prof. AbdulMoty Kabbash
Dr. Khaldoon Aljerian
Dr. Theeb Alkahtani
COURSE OUTLINE
Class schedule:
Weekly 1 hour x 2 semesters= 2 credit hours
- Female: Sunday 11:00-12:00
- Male Group A: Wednesday 11:00-12:00
- Male Group B: Tuesday 08:00-09:00
Office hours: Sunday – Tuesday 09:00-10:00
e-mail: khaldoonaljerian@yahoo.com
e-class: http://www.facebook.com/groups/form321/
Course description:
The course is an introduction to Forensic Medicine, Postmortem pathology, Forensic sciences and Toxicology. FORM 321 is conducted in English and presented to students whom have completed the following pre-requisite disciplines including subspecialties (and prior to residency): Basic medical sciences, Laboratory medicine and pathobiology, Internal medicine, Surgery, Anesthesia, Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology. The students will be introduce to legal, professional and ethical aspects of Forensic Medicine, identification, cause, mechanism and manner of death, unexpected and natural death, Forensic Sciences, mechanical and physical trauma and injury (including that of the underprivileged and minorities), drowning and toxicology. The students will be evaluated on their various levels of learning, knowledge, cognitive skills, interpersonal skills and responsibility, communication and information technology.
Your textbook is Simpson's Forensic Medicine, 12th ed. 2003 by R. Shepherd (see references below). Thorough understanding of the material in the textbook is essential for the course. You will not be able to obtain this from superficial reading of the chapters but you should master the terminology and the concepts in the textbook because this is a 300 level course (or optimally higher). The lectures, presentations, class discussions will assume that you are familiar with this information so that we can emphasise other topics, discussion and questions during class together.
Your cooperation and feedback will create an optimal environment for learning that we can all enjoy.
Course Objectives:
The students will be able to identify, understand and apply:
- The legal, professional and ethical aspects of Forensic Medicine.
- Various methods of identification, live and dead individuals.
- Cause, mechanism and manner of death when filling the death certificate.
- Unexpected and natural death.
- Forensic Sciences.
- Mechanical and physical trauma and injury (including underprivileged and minorities) and drowning.
- Toxicology.
The students will be able to compare and contrast various:
- Causes of death.
- Types of trauma.
- Mechanisms of death.
The student will be able to compose a scientific manuscript with critical analysis of previous references and suggest the benefits of the paper to the community.
The student will demonstrate interpersonal skills, responsibility and will be able to communicate and utilize information technology.
Teaching Methods:
Lectures
Student presentation
Project
eClass
Assessment Methods:
Exam: Death certification, Midterm and Final written, Case scenario/PBL
Project: Scientific manuscript
Presentation
Components of Final Mark:
Mid term (with Death certification) 30
Presentation 10
Project 10
Medical Expert 10
Final 40
Total 100
Teaching Philosophy
The methods of teaching and assessment have been chosen to target the full spectrum of the cognitive and affective domains of learning, originally described by Bloom and colleagues. Unfortunately our course does not grant us the time to incorporate the psycho-motor domain. However, we will be offering this learning experience in a postgraduate program. One objective of this course is to discuss Forensic related topics.
Interaction in class and in your eClass (http://www.facebook.com/groups/form321/), with your colleagues and course supervisors is imperative to learning. The eClass will give you 24/7 access to the FORM 321 eClass discussions and important documents for your course.
It is essential to understand that you are learning and how this is done. It is about what you do with the posts and comments. How do you react? How is this related to forensics? What am I going to do with this information? Does this post/comment/link/article raise any questions? How would I answer them? How would I evaluate that state, correct it or make it better? These are the some of the objectives of the course.
The “Cognitive Domain”
The project will show your ability to create a forensic related scientific project/manuscript and evaluate, analyze and review others publications. Filling the death certificate means you have learned to apply your newly adapted knowledge and analyse cases of death. Presenting a forensic topic reveals your ability to understand value and organise your knowledge.
My future colleagues, the reason we are all putting up posts is not to test if you can read, if you have high speed internet, etc...It is to stimulate you to think about Forensics...to target the awareness and growth in attitudes, emotion, and feelings towards Forensics…to see if you can look at things and see them through a Forensic “lens” and to stimulate a project.
The “Forensic Lens” and the "Affective Domain"
Targeting learning in the "affective domain" (similar to the way we target the cognitive domain) has several levels. The lowest is “receiving” (passive attention) but it is also the most essential (similar to remembering in the cognitive domain of Bloom’s Taxonomy, it is also the lowest level of the cognitive domain but the most essential). Then comes responding or “reacting”. Next is “valuing” and understanding if this information has worth. Then comes “Organizing” (the valued info/ideas, etc). The highest is “Characterizing”, meaning you will have a value/opinion/belief towards the valued and organized information which will affect your behavior or your character.
Project and Medical Expert
The final project must be submitted by the end of week 30 and will be graded out of 20% of the final mark. Throughout the year the project will require that you become a medical expert and will be worth 20 grades and the components will be as follows:
- Manager with organization and team work: 4 grades
- Collaborator with appropriate eClass interaction: 4 grades
- Health advocate and communicator with appropriate title selection and promptness: 4 grades (submitted by the end of the 7th week)
- Professionalism and project ethics process: 4 grades
- Scholar and use of evidence based medicine with references: 4 grades
Policy on language quality and late submissions:
Class attendance is necessary to successfully complete this course.
You will also be judged on your writing abilities. It is recommended to take the appropriate measures to avoid mistakes. You will be penalized between 5-15% at the professor’s discretion.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated.
Late submissions are not tolerated. Exceptions are made only for illness and other serious situations deemed as such by the professor. There will be a penalty for late submissions. Each day of late submission will result in a penalty of 5%. This also applies to assignments sent by email and in this case the time of receipt of the email will be considered a guarantor of the time of delivery.
Instructions for reading the book
The reference for this class includes:
Simpson's Forensic Medicine, 12th ed. 2003 by R. Shepherd. Paperback: 208 pages. Publisher: A Hodder Arnold nPublication; 12 edition (September 4, 2003). Language: English. ISBN-10: 0340764228. ISBN-13: 978-0340764220.
Other references are listed in the course outline and complimented by eClass and class interactions, sessions and lectures. Thorough understanding of the material in the textbook is essential for the course. You will not be able to obtain this from superficial reading of the chapters but you should master the terminology and the concepts in the textbook because this is a 300 level course (or optimally higher). The lectures, presentations, class discussions will assume that you are familiar with this information so that we can emphasise other topics, discussion and questions during class together.
You are required to read approximately 10 pages a day, daily. This should take you approximately 10-15 minutes each day. The book contains 29 chapters and appendix 1 that you are required to cover. Therefore, you should be finished reading the book within approximately 18 days. One way you may wish to read the book is by reading the titles of each chapter and going over the pictures, graphs and tables before reading the entire chapter. Focus on the titles we have focused on in our course outline.
Presentations
There are three categories:
1-Natural:
2-Specific injuries:
3-Underprivileged/minorities:
Each subgroup of students will present a single title from each category. The dates of each presentation are in the schedule posted. The attending KSU faculty will give each subgroup 10-15 minutes for the presentation and will grade each subgroup as indicated in the course outline.
Topics
1-Natural:
Chapter number Chapter Title
17 Unexpected and Sudden Death from
19 Pregnancy and Abortion
20 Deaths and Injury in Infancy
23 Alcohol
2-Specific injuries:
Chapter number Chapter Title
12 Transportation Injuries
13 Asphyxia
14 Immersion and Drowning
15 Injury due to Heat, Cold and Electricity
3-Underprivileged/minorities:
Chapter number Chapter Title
18 Sexual Offences
19 Pregnancy and Abortion
20 Deaths and Injury in Infancy
21 Neglect, Starvation and Abuse of Human
4 The Medico-legal Aspects of Mental Disease
The book contains the minimal knowledge needed about Forensic Medicine. As we discussed in the “course outline” you are required to go over the entire book. The presentations will help you cover most of the topics as will the eClass. That way the sessions for presentations helps go over 13 chapters of the important 20 chapters of the book (Chapter 4-23).
Presentations confirm that you have understood the information and are able to explain it to others. It shows you can work in a team and mange a group. The idea of the presentation is to have the students express what they have "understood" about the topics and to cover a majority of the book. Other areas may be covered out of class.
You have 15 sessions and you may organize yourselves as you wish.
You may use any form of teaching tool. You may use the blackboard, white board or any other color board. Maybe use PowerPoint or a scenario, film clip, sketch or play. Others may choose to give a pre-exam or post exam …or both. The pre-exam may be organised so that the day of your presentation you can give the grades of the pre-exam as part of your presentation
You want to give tasks to the other groups prior to class, such as: “What is the most important point you would like to learn from today’s class?” and make sure you get these back in time (2-3 days prior to your presentation) to be prepared to answer that in class! Or just ask the same question at the beginning of your presentation.
You may ask the other groups: “What is the one thing you did not understand in the last class?” and make sure you get these back in time (2-3 days prior to your presentation) to be prepared to answer that in class! Or just ask the same question at the beginning of your presentation.
The group may choose one person to do the presenting. Another may decide that multiple students may present.
I will give the example of the outstanding work of Dr. Rana Altahan. In her group each subgroup would present 3 times. In each time they would present a chapter. Presentations should be in this case should be 15 minutes. The remainder should be for discussion.
The Fish Bowl
One form of discussion would be to involve the presenting group (for example group 1) as the supervisors/teachers (or the cats) and the remainder groups (Groups 2-5) will be the students (fish in a fish bowl/tank). Like cats, group one will supervise the remainder of the groups/class just like a group of cats would “supervise” a fish bowl/tank. You may want to have the cats/supervisors (Group 1 students) spread out to control the class better. Preferably have some “cats” on the left and right hand sides of class. Some cats in the middle and others at the back. The front can be supervised by the presenter.
Or you can just give a boring lecture by reading off your PowerPoint slides to the class while they have a beauty nap.
Ground rules
In addition to Bloom’s taxonomy to improve your learning goals and experiences, I would like to establish some ground rules. Ground rules will also enrich your learning experience during your FORM 321 course by creating a safe environment for learning.
Ground rules include:
- Try your best to come on time!
- Obviously, this is not always possible. In the unfortunate circumstance you will not be able to attend on time, please.
- Enter with the absolute minimal disturbance to the class. Basically, try your best to enter without anyone noticing.
- Your attendance may be of benefit to you. I am sure your colleagues and I would appreciate your attendance and contribution.
- At anytime you feel your attendance is not of benefit to you or you need to leave for any reason; personal, academic or otherwise, please leave without any disturbance to the class. Please do not ask permission to leave. You are an adult and can make mature, responsible decisions on your own.
- Please respect any KSU and College of Medicine cultural, religious, health and safety regulations. A breach of these regulations may lead to serious consequences.
- Switch mobile phones (and any “noise” producing instruments, devices, etc. to “off” or “flight mode”.
- Mobile phones are not allowed in class at anytime. If you require to use your mobile phone for any reason, please leave class and return at your discretion. You will be asked to leave class if you are seen with a mobile phone(or similar device) in your hand, on yourself or using it in any fashion. Please leave quietly and return in the same manner, at your discretion.
- Do not interrupt your colleagues while they are addressing the class.
- Respect other students’ contributions.
- Only have one conversation at a time in the class.
Schedule
Week 1 (10 September to 14 September 2011)
1
Course outline and Project
Dr.Aljerian
(12 Shawwal to 16 Shawwal 1432)
Week 2 (17 September to 21 September 2011)
2
Forensics
Dr.Aljerian
(19 Shawwal to 23 Shawwal 1432)
Week 3 (24 September to 28 September 2011)
3
Management
Dr.Aljerian
(26 Shawwal to 30 Shawwal 1432)
Week 4 (01 October to 05 October 2011)
4
DEAN's meeting
Project
Organization
Dr.Aljerian
(03 Dhul’ Qadah to 07 Dhul’ Qadah 1432)
Week 5 (08 October to 12 October 2011)
5
PM changes
Prof. Kabbash
(10 Dhul’ Qadah to 14 Dhul’ Qadah 1432)
Week 6 (15 October to 19 October 2011)
6
Project
Titles
Dr.Aljerian
(17 Dhul’ Qadah to 21 Dhul’ Qadah 1432)
Week 7 (22 October to 26 October 2011)
7
Gen Tox
Prof. Kabbash
(24 Dhul’ Qadah to 28 Dhul’ Qadah 1432)
Week 8 (29 October to 02 November 2011)
8
Self directed learning
Dr. AlQahtani
(02 Dhul’ Hijja to 06 Dhul’ Hijja 1432)
9 Vacation
Week 10 (12 November to 16 November 2011)
10
Forensic CSI, Exam, inv, report and witness
Dr.Aljerian
(16 Dhul’ Hijja to 20 Dhul’ Hijja 1432)
Week 11 (19 November to 23 November 2011)
11
Death certification, Classification of Trauma, reportable cases
Dr.Aljerian
(23 Dhul’ Hijja to 27 Dhul’ Hijja 1432)
Week 12 (26 November to 30 November 2011)
12
Presentation
Group 1
Prof. Kabbash
(01 Muharram to 05 Muharram 1433)
Week 13 (03 December to 07 December 2011)
13
Presentation
Group 2
Prof. Kabbash
(08 Muharram to 12 Muharram 1433)
Week 14 (10 December to 14 December 2011)
14
Presentation
Group 3
Prof. Kabbash
(15 Muharram to 19 Muharram 1433)
Week 15 (17 December to 21 December 2011)
15
Presentation
Group 4
Prof. Kabbash
(22 Muharram to 26 Muharram 1433)
Week 16 (24 December to 28 December 2011)
16
Presentation
Group 5
Prof. Kabbash
(29 Muharram to 03 Safar 1433)
17-20
Exams
Week 17: Consolidation: 31/12/2011 till 4/1/ 2012
Week 18: Written examination: 7/1/2012 till 11/1/2012
Week 19: Practical examination: 14/1/2012 till 17/1/2012
Week 20: Mid -year Holiday: 18/1/2012 till 25/1/2012
Week 21 (28 January to 01 February 2012)
21
Self directed learning
Dr. AlQahtani
(05 Rabi’ I to 09 Rabi’ I 1433)
Week 22 (04 February to 08 February 2012)
22
Project
Project ethics
Dr.Aljerian
(12 Rabi’ I to 16 Rabi’ I 1433)
Week 23 (11 February to 15 February 2012)
23
Project
Methods and Resources
Dr.Aljerian
(19 Rabi’ I to 23 Rabi’ I 1433)
Week 24 (18 February to 22 February 2012)
24
Project
Review
Dr.Aljerian
(26 Rabi’ I to 30 Rabi’ I 1433)
Week 25 (25 February to 29 February 2012)
25
Presentation
Group 1
Prof. Kabbash
(03 Rabi’ II to 07 Rabi’ II 1433)
Week 26 (03 March to 07March 2012)
26
Presentation
Group 2
Prof. Kabbash
(10 Rabi’ II to 14 Rabi’ II 1433)
Week 27 (10 March to 14 March 2012)
27
Presentation
Group 3
Prof. Kabbash
(17 Rabi’ II to 21 Rabi’ II 1433)
Week 28 (17 March to 21 March 2012)
28
Presentation
Group 4
Prof. Kabbash
(24 Rabi’ II to 28 Rabi’ II 1433)
Week 29: Mid-semester holiday: 21/3/2012 till 28/3/2012
Week 30 (31 March to 04 April 2012)
30
Presentation
Group 5
Prof. Kabbash
(08 Jumada’ I to 12 Jumada’ I 1433)
Week 31 (07 April to 11 April 2012)
31
Presentation
Group 1
Prof. Kabbash
(15 Jumada’ I to 19 Jumada’ I 1433)
Week 32 (14 April to 18 April 2012)
32
Presentation
Group 2
Prof. Kabbash
(22 Jumada’ I to 26 Jumada’ I 1433)
33 Research week
Week 34 (28 April to 02 May 2012)
34
Presentation
Group 2
Prof. Kabbash
(07 Jumada’ II to 11 Jumada’ II 1433)
Week 35 (05 May to 09 May 2012)
35
Presentation
Group 4
Prof. Kabbash
(14 Jumada’ II to 18 Jumada’ II 1433)
Week 36 (12 May to 16 May 2012)
36
Presentation
Group 5
Prof. Kabbash
(21 Jumada’ II to 25 Jumada’ II 1433)
Week 37 - 38: Consolidation: 19/5/2012 till 30/5/2012
Week 39: Written exams: 2/6/2012 till 6/6/2012
Week 40: Practical exams: 9/6/2012 till 3/6/2012
Resources:
Simpson's Forensic Medicine, 12th ed. 2003 by R. Shepherd. Paperback: 208 pages. Publisher: A Hodder Arnold nPublication; 12 edition (September 4, 2003). Language: English. ISBN-10: 0340764228. ISBN-13: 978-0340764220.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/form321/docs/
Project format: http://www.facebook.com/groups/form321/doc/137543686342123/
Types of Projects: http://www.facebook.com/groups/form321/doc/137548603008298/
Preparing a Manuscript for Submission to a Biomedical Journal: http://www.facebook.com/groups/form321/doc/137537773009381/
Biomedical Publication Ethics: http://www.facebook.com/groups/form321/doc/137537576342734/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
http://www.forensicmed.co.uk/science/
Course Materials