Problems of Forensic Sciences 2010 Vol. 83 (LXXXIII) 298-308
INJURY ASSESSMENT IN PENAL PROCEEDINGS: EXPERT WITNESSING PROBLEMS IN CASES WHERE PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURIES OCCUR
Elżbieta SKUPIEŃ 1, Krzysztof WOŹNIAK 2
1Institute of Forensic Research, Kraków, Poland
2Department of Forensic Medicine, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
Streszczenie
The authors (a psychiatrist and a forensic physician) present issues related to medico-legal assessment of injuries (in the broadestsense) in cases interpreted as primarily falling under Article 157 § 2 of the Penal Code of the Republic of Poland and where a significant role has been ascribed not to “physical” in juries, but to psychological ones – caused by the stress of being a victim or witness of a crime. Two cases dealt with by the authors are presented to illustrate the problem.
Słowa kluczowe
Biological effect; Post-traumatic stress; Forensic experts.