Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Legal Medicine
Legal Medicine
Legal Medicine
LEGAL MEDICINE
Legal Medicine
- Is that branch of medicine that applies, medical and surgical concepts,
scientific knowledge and skills to medico legal issues, in order to assist the trier of
facts in the proper dispensation of justice.
Medical Jurisprudence
- Study of the Medical Law and its applicable Jurisprudence that governs,
regulates and defines the practice of medicine.
Legal Medicine
- Study of the application of medical knowledge to purposes of law and in
the administration of justice including the application of basic clinical, medical and
paramedical sciences to elucidate legal matters
Medical Jurisprudence
- Study of the aspect of law and legal concepts which has to do with the
practice of medicine
Legal or Forensic Medicine
- Is the application of the medical knowledge in the practice of law
Medical Jurisprudence
- Refers to the legal aspects of medical practice
- Is thus the study of laws and jurisprudence in medical education, medical
regulation and medical practice
FORENSIC MEDICINE
1.Post – mortem examination to determine and look into the human body for
concealed wounds, foreign objects and other physical evidence
3. Microscope to see tiny lesions, crystals, microbes, and distinguish hairs and
fibers
4. Spectroscopic analysis of blood, tissues and material found on or near the body
of the victim to distinguish and match trace elements that link the body of the
victim, crime scene and perpetrator
- In the Phil. the father of Legal Medicine can be rightfully bestowed to Dr.
Pedro P. Solis. His book on Legal Medicine copyrighted in 1987, contains the most
extensive treatise and teachings in Philippine Legal Medicine.
2. Criminal Law
- Felonies and circumstances which affect criminal liability
- Civil liability ex delictu
- Crimes relative to opium and prohibited drugs
- Crimes against persons
- Crimes against chastity
- Crimes against civil status of persons
- Quasi – offenses
3. Remedial Law
- Physical and Mental Examination of a person
- Hospitalization of insane persons
- Rules of Evidence
4. Special Laws
- Dangerous Drug Act
- Youth and Child Welfare Code
- Sanitation Code
- Insurance law
- Labor Code
- Employees Compensation Law
CORPUS DELICTI
- Is the body or substance of the crime and is defined as the fact that
a crime actually has been committed. In all criminal prosecutions, the
burden is on the prosecution to prove the corpus delicti.
QUANTUM OF PROOF
2. In Criminal Cases
– the quantum is proof beyond reasonable doubt.
- In a criminal case the accused is entitled to an acquittal, unless his guilt is
shown beyond reasonable doubt
- Presumption of INNOCENCE is a conclusion drawn by the constitution and
the law in favor of the accused while REASONABLE DOUBT, is a condition of mind
produced by proof resulting from evidence in the case.
5. To establish Alibi
- It must be proved by positive, dear and satisfactory evidence. “ Oral
Evidence” of alibi is so easily manufactured and usually unreliable that it
can rarely be given credence.
6. In Administrative Complaints
- In cases filed before administrative or quasi judicial bodies, a fact
maybe deemed established if it is supported by “ substantial evidence”
which means that amount of relevant evidence which a reasonable mind
might accept as adequate to justify a conclusion.
CHAPTER 2
Medical Jurisprudence:
- Is the study of the Medical Law and its applicable Jurisprudence that
governs, regulates, and defines the practice of medicine.
- It includes the rights, duties, obligations and liabilities of both physician and
patient to each other in a physician patient professional contract.
Any person who practice any of the above acts enumerated, without any
valid certificate of registration as a physician, is practicing illegal medicine.
2. Fiduciary:
- founded in trust, faith, and confidence reposed by one person in the
integrity and fidelity of another.
The Terms and Conditions not included in the Physician Patient Professional
Relationship Contract ( refer to book )
The only promise or guaranty that the law requires is that, the physician
will treat the patient in accordance with the standards of medical care.
PATIENTS RIGHTS RESPECTED BY PHYSICIANS:
Liabilities of a Physician Which May Arise from His Negligent or Wrongful Acts or
Omissions:
1. Administrative Liability
- A complaint under oath can be filed before the Professional Regulation
Commission Board of Medicine, for reprimand, of the license to practice
medicine.
2. Criminal Liability
- When an act or omission constitutes a crime, the physician can be
imprisoned or fined or both, as any other profession.
3. Civil Liability
- The aggrieved party can be awarded monetary damages for any wrongful
or negligent act or omission, when the professional is found guilty.
CASES ( Refer to Book )
DEATH
Death maybe
A. Brain Death – occurs when there is a deeply irreversible coma, and absence of
electrical brain activity.
4 Kinds of Death:
1. Clinical or Somatic Death
2. Brain Death
3. Biological Death
4. Cellular Death
- The clinical death is verifiable only by a physician after he observes that the
patient no longer has a heart beat no pulse rate, no spontaneous breathing and
movement, with the pupils of the eye widely dilated and not reactive to light and
accommodation.
- When a clinically dead person is brought to the morgue the generalized
contraction of the muscles or Rigor Mortis of the body within 3 to 6 hours, may
simulate a return to life, because of the motion or movement of the body.
BRAIN DEATH
- This kind of death follows clinical death – almost immediately unless
resuscitative procedures are started promptly, because the human brain under
normal conditions cannot survive loss of oxygen for more than 6 to 10 minutes.
- If the brain stem is damaged, then the vital centers in the medulla maybe
destroyed, causing the respiratory center to fail.
- The occurrence of brain stem death is equivalent to Legal Death, so that
Doctors can now issue a Death Certificate, even though the heart is still beating,
and make arrangements to harvest donor organs and tissues at this stage.
- Further, in the presence of brain stem death, artificial respirators only
achieve the maintenance of an oxygenated circulation through a corpse or
cadaver.
- When the brain ceased all functions, even though the heart continues to
beat. As a rule doctors can legally declare whole brain death twelve hours after
they have corrected all treatable medical problems, but the brain still doesn’t
respond even to induced pain , they eyes do not react to light and the person
doesn’t breath without a respirator.
BIOLOGICAL DEATH
- All the components of the brain are dead
- There is also permanent extinction of bodily life.
- It is cardiorespiratory and brain death altogether with permanent cessation
of all the anatomic and physiological functions of the body organs.
CELLULAR DEATH:
- The death of the different parts of the body occurs at different times and
stages.
- This is the reason why such organs as the corneas and the kidneys can be
removed immediately after biological death and transplanted successfully.
SIGNS OF DEATH:
1. Cessation of heart action and circulation
2. Cessation of respiration
3. Cooling of the body ( Algor Mortis )
- The temperature of 15 – 20 degrees Fahrenheit is considered as a
certain sign of death.
4. Loss of motor power
5. Loss of sensory power
6. Changes in the skin
7. Changes in and about the eye
- There is loss of corneal reflex
2. Presence of live Fleas in clothing – in death by drowning, a flea can survive for
about 24 hours submerged in water. After 24 hours submersion in water the fleas
die.
3. Blood vessel clots – blood clotting occurs in 6 -8 hours after death.
4. Post Mortem lividity – develops in 3 to 6 hours after death.
5. Rigor Mortis- begins to develop in 3 to 6 hours after death and may last for 24
to 36 hours after death.
6. Onset of decomposition – Decomposition takes place within 24 – 48 hours after
death.
7. Food in the stomach
8. Skeletal soft tissues – soft tissues may disappear from 1.5 years to 2 years after
burial.
In drowning, the victim maybe holding objects that come in contact with his
hands to cling to life.
Cadaveric spasm occurs immediately after death and is useful to ascertain the
circumstances of death.
Medico Legal Investigation of Death
- Deaths which are not obviously due to natural causes, but are criminal,
suspicious, accidental, suicidal, murderous, homicidal, sudden or unexpected, or
unexplained, need medico legal investigation.
Death Warrant – is a warrant from the proper executive authority appointing the
time and place for the execution of the sentence of death upon a convict judicially
condemned to suffer death.
Manner of Death
- Is the explanation as to how the cause of death arose, and maybe either
Natural Death or Violent Death
Lazarus Syndrome
- Is also called Lazarus Phenomenon is the spontaneous return of circulation
after failed attempts at resuscitation.
EUTHANASIA
- Meaning good death ( well or good )
- Refers to the practice of ending life in a painless manner.
- Deliberate intervention undertaken with the express intention of ending
life, to relieve intractable suffering
Classification of Euthanasia:
1. Voluntary euthanasia – is euthanasia conducted with consent
2. Involuntary euthanasia
– is euthanasia conducted without consent.
-is conducted where an individual makes a decision for another person incapable
of doing so.
- also known as physician assisted death, physician assisted suicide or mercy
killing.
3. Passive euthanasia – entails withholding of common treatments
4. Active euthanasia – entails the use of lethal substances or forces to end life and
is the most controversial means.
CHAPTER 4
REGIONAL TRAUMA
Trauma
– is the leading cause of death in the first four decades of life and the 3 rd leading
cause of death in all age groups today.
-Penetrating trauma particularly handguns is becoming common in nearly all
areas of the country.
3. Several days to weeks of Injury – these are due to sepsis or organ failure.
SPECIFIC INJURIES
1. Head
a. Types of Head Injuries:
a.1 Hematoma
a.2 Contusions
a.3 Skull fractures
a.4 Hemorrhage
2. Spine and Spinal Cord Injuries
The most common causes of severe spinal trauma are motor vehicular
accidents, falls, diving accidents, and gunshot wounds.
3. Chest
a. Life Threatening Injuries
Pnumothorax
Hemothorax
Flail chest as in multiple rib fractures Cardiac tamponade due to
penetrating injuries
4. Abdomen
Types of Injuries:
a. Penetrating
- Gunshot wounds of the abdomen carry 95% probability of
significant visceral injury
- A bullet when it hits the abdomen will penetrate the abdominal
wall, enter the abdominal cavity and most likely injure more than one
organ.
- The incidence of abdominal injury is strikingly higher in gunshot
wounds than in stab wounds.
- The major cause of death is hemorrhage and this occurs within the
first 24 hours
- In stab wounds of the abdomen , only 2/3 penetrate the peritoneal
cavity; of these only ½ cause significant visceral injury that requires
surgical repair.
b. Blunt
- The spleen and liver are the most commonly injured organs due to
blunt trauma.
- Their frequent incidence al
so explains why the mortality rate following blunt trauma is higher
than that of penetrating injury.
6. Urologic
- Hematuria following trauma
- Blunt kidney injury is usually due to motor vehicular accidents
which account for 70 – 90 % of kidney trauma.
- Penile injury:
The erect penis is usually 6 – 8 inches long and 1 -2 inches in
diameter.
- Avulsion of the prepuce – this may follow accidents where the
foreskin called prepuce is detached or lacerated by a blunt force.
- Fracture of the penis – this is the traumatic rupture of the corpora
cavernosa penis resulting from a forceful trauma to the flaccid organ.
- Amputated penis – the penis of an avid womanizer is sometimes
intentionally cut or amputated by a jealous derange wife or lover.
7. Arterial trauma
8. Burns
CLASSIFICATION OF WOUNDS
1. AS TO LEGAL CLASSIFICATION
Chapter 1
DESTRUCTION OF LIFE
a. Article 246. Parricide
b. Article 247. Death or Physical Injuries Inflicted Under Exceptional
Circumstances
c. Article 248. MURDER
- Any person who, not falling within the provisions of Article 246 shall kill
another, shall be guilty of murder and shall be punished by Reclusion Perpetua, to
death if committed with any of the following attendant circumstances;
1. With treachery
2. In consideration of a price , reward or promise
3. By means of inundation etc.
4. On occasion of any of the calamities etc.
5. With evident premeditation
6. With cruelty etc
PHYSICAL INJURIES
a. Article 262. Mutilation – Any person who shall intentionally mutilate another by
depriving him, either totally or partially , of some essential organ of reproduction.
b. Article 263. Serious Physical Injuries – Any person who shall wound, beat, or
assault another, shall be guilty of the crime of serious physical injuries
Classification of Wounds
2. AS TO THE DEPTH OF THE WOUND
a. Superficial – When the wound involves only the layer of the skin
b. Deep – When the wound involves the structures beyond the layers of the skin.
b.1 Penetrating – the wound enters the body but does not come out. Punctured,
stab and gunshot wounds usually belong to this type of wound.
b.2 Perforating – there is a communication between the outside, inner and the
outer side. There is both a point of entry and exit.
Classification of Wounds
3. AS TO MORTALITY
a. Deadly Wound- Death results immediately, after the infliction of the wound.
Deadly wounds though mortal, maybe prevented with prompt medical treatment.
b. Non Deadly Wounds – Does not result to death immediately, after the wound is
inflicted. A non deadly wound may cause death later, due to complications i.e.
tetanus, septicemia
Classification of Wounds:
4. AS TO THE WOUNDING INSTRUMENTS USED:
a. Sharp Instruments – Ex. incised wound, punctured wound, stab wound dagger
or kitchen knife
b. Blunt Instruments – A block of wood or iron produces contusion, hematoma,
abrasions, lacerated wound when used to strike, attack, wound, beat or assault
another
Classification of Wounds:
5. AS TO THE CONSEQUENTIAL INJURY AFTER THE APPLICATION OF FORCE
a. Coup Injury -
b. Coup Centre Coup Injury
c. Contre Coup Injury
d. Locus Minoris resistancia
e. Extensive injury
Classification of Wounds:
6. AS TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE SKIN
A. CLOSED WOUNDS – Presents no break in the integrity or continuity of the skin.
There may be only outward manifestations of injury internally.
Ex. of closed wounds:
1. petechiae – a circumscribe extravasation of blood in the subcutaneous tissue.
2. contusion – effusion of blood into the tissues underneath the skin as a result of
a blunt force. Ex. black eye
3. Hematoma
4. Blunt injury
5. Musculoskeletal injuries
Ex. Sprain, Dislocation, Fracture, Strain
Cerebral Contusion – they are bruises to the brain, usually caused by a direct,
strong blow to the head. They are more serious than concussions.
2. Defense wounds – in the process of defending himself from the attacks, assault,
wounding, beating or violence of the assailant, the victim sustains defensive
wounds usually in the upper extremities.
3. Victim’s wounds – these are wounds sustained by the victim, from the
assailant, the former not having the chance or opportunity to defend himself. The
victim’s wounds maybe located in any part of the body.
4. Self – Inflicted wounds – these are wounds self inflicted by the person on
himself. The wounds are usually found on the accessible parts of the body, usually
with no intention to kill self. Unless the victim is insane, self inflicted wounds are
for a fraudulent or self serving purpose.
5. Homicidal wounds – these are the serious wounds sustained by the victim
resulting to his death, from the criminal assailant. Usually the wounds are
situated in the areas of the neck, chest, the abdomen and the skull.
6. Accidental wounds – these wounds are sustained by the victim, without any
fault or intention whatsoever on the part of the accused to inflict the wounds on
the victim. The wounds are usually located on any part of the victim’s body.
7. Suicidal wounds – these are wounds self inflicted by the victim on himself, and
usually seen on the temple, the roof of the mouth, and other fatal body areas,
accessible to the hand of the victim.
CHAPTER 5
The Dangerous Drug Act of 1972, include the following Dangerous Drugs as
follows:
A. PROHIBITED DRUGS
1. Opium and its active components and derivatives such as heroin and
morphine.
B. REGULATED DRUGS
1. Self inducing sedatives such as secobarbital, phenobarbital,
pentobarbital, barbital and any drug which contains salt or derivative of a
salt of barbituric acid.
B. Drug Habituation – is the desire to have a continuous use of the drug but
with the capacity to refrain physically from using it.
6. Protector
7. Pusher
8. Controlled Delivery
9. Den, Dive or Resort
10. PDEA – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, which is the
implementing arm of the Dangerous Drugs Board.
Section 56. Temporary Release from the Center; After Care and Follow up
Treatment Under the Voluntary Submission Program
Section 70. Probation or Community Service for a First Time Minor Offender
In Lieu of Imprisonment
Narcotics that have a legitimate medical used as powerful pain relievers are
called Opioids, and include codeine, oxycodone, meperidine, morphine and
hydromorphone.
B. SEDATIVES:
Barbiturates: - are the products of malonic acid and urea, synthesized on St.
Barbara day.
- Used to treat anxiety and to induce sleep can cause both psychologic and
physical dependence.
Untoward Effects:
- They increase the blood pressure and heart rate. Fatal heart attacks have
occurred even in healthy, young athletes. The blood pressure maybe so high that
a blood vessel in the brain ruptures causing a stroke.
Untoward Effects:
- Same as amphetamine
E. DEPRESSANTS:
- Angel dust
- Depresses the brain and abusers usually become confused and disoriented
shortly after taking the drug.
- Can be combative and because they don’t feel the pain they may continue
fighting even when hit hard.
CHAPTER 6
2. Sado – masochism
a. Sadism
b. Masochism
3. Fetishism – is a sexual perversion wherein the real or fantasied presence
of an object or bodily part is necessary for sexual stimulation or gratification
a. Anatomic – particular portion of the anatomy, such as the breast
or the buttocks are the target for sexual stimulation
b. Clothing -
.
c. Necrophilic – sex with a dead body
d. Odor ( ospresiophilia )
Kinds of Ospresiophilia
1. Urolagnia – women urinating
2. Coprolagnia – odor of female feces
3. Mysophilia – odor of human filth
a. Narcissism
b. Saboteur Fetish
c. Vampirism
E. As to visual stimulus
1. Voyeurism – to peep to see persons undress
2. Scoptophilia – attains sexual orgasm by merely watching two persons
doing the sexual act or is in the nude
F. As to number
1. Troilism
2. Pluralism
I. Sexual reversal
1. Transvertism
2. Transexualism
3. Intersexuality
SEXUAL CRIMES:
Chaste – An unmarried woman who has had no carnal knowledge with men or
that she never voluntarily had unlawful sexual intercourse. These also denotes
purity of mind and innocence of heart.
Virgin – A woman who has had no carnal knowledge of man. Her genital organs
have not been altered by carnal connection.
Kinds of virginity
1. Moral virginity – the state of not knowing the nature of sexual life and not
having experience sexual relation.
3. Demi – virginity – This term refers to a condition of a woman who permits any
form of sexual liberties as long as they abstain from rupturing the hymen by
sexual act. The woman allows sexual intercourse, but only inter femora or even
inter labia, but not to the extent of rupturing the hymen.
4. Virgo intacta – A truly virgin woman. There is no structural change in her organ,
notwithstanding the fact of a previous sexual intercourse.
D. Acts of Lasciviosness
E. Acts of Lasciviousness with Consent of the Offended Party
F. Abduction
1. Forcible Abduction
2. Consensual Abduction
G. Adultery
H. Concubinage
I. Bigamy
J. Marriage Contracted Against the Provisions of Law
K. Premature Marriage
L. Performance of Illegal Marriage Ceremony
M. Prostitution
N. Corruption of Minors
O. White Slave Trade
P. Abuse Against Chastity
CHAPTER 7
3. Phobic Disorders
a. Agoraphobia
- Fear of being trapped without a graceful and easy way to leave if anxiety
should trike
b. Specific phobias
c. Social phobia
- A person’s ability to relate comfortably with others, affects many aspects
of life, including early family relationships, education, work, leisure, dating and
mating
4. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
5. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
6. Depression and Mania
7. Bipolar Disorder
8. Suicidal Behavior
- the final act in a course of self- destruction. Common among people who have
had traumatic childhood experiences, particularly those who suffered child abuse
or neglect or the distresses of a single parent
9. Eating Disorders
a. Anorexia nervosa
b. Bulimia nervosa
c. Binge eating disorder
Types of Compulsion:
a. Pyromania – irresistible impulse to set things afire
b. Kleptomania – irresistible impulse to steal articles of no much value
c. Dipsomania – irresistible impulse to indulge in intoxication either with
alcohol or drugs
d. Homicidal impulse – an irresistible impulse to kill prompted by an insane
delusion either as a necessity or self defense or avenging for justice
e. Sex impulse – irresistible desire to exual perversion
f. Suicidal impulse – strong desire to kill oneself usually in acute depression
DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN TRUE AND FALSE INSANITY:
1. True insanity develops insidiously usually with the existence of some
predisposition to an exciting cause if careful history is taken, while false
insanity develops suddenly with no existing predisposition.
6. In true insanity, the patient does not observe personal hygiene, in false
insanity, the pretender observes hygiene
2. As a mitigating Circumstance
Article 13, of the Revised Penal Code provides, the following are
mitigationg circumstances:
a. That the offender is deaf and dumb, blind or otherwise suffering
from physical defect which thus restricts his means of action, defense or
communication with his fellow beings
Classifications of IQs:
Above 140 Near genius or genius
120 – 140 Very superior intelligence
110 – 120 Superior intelligence
90 – 110 Normal or average intelligence
80 – 90 Dullness, rarely classified as feeble minded
70 – 80 Borderline deficiency or dullness
Below 70 Definitely feeble minded
MALINGERER
- A person who pretends or protracts illness or injury to escape work or duty.
Reasons why a person malingers.
1. As a defense to criminal prosecution or investigation
2. To increase the demand for damages in a civil suit
3. To avoid Court appearances or court summons
4. To avoid military training
5. To attract attention or sympathy from others
The Legal Importance of Determining the Person’s State of Mind:
1. In Criminal law, insanity exempts a person from criminal liability
In Civil law:
a. Insanity is a restriction of the capacity of a natural person to act as
provided in Article 38 of the Civil Code.
c. Insanity at the time of marriage of any or both parties is a ground for the
annulment of marriage.
DNA analysis is a powerful tool because each person’s DNA is unique to him only,
( with the exception of identical twins )
Therefore DNA evidence collected from a crime scene can implicate or eliminate
suspect, similar to the use of fingerprints.
It also can analyze unidentified remains through comparisons with DNA from
relatives
Additionally, when evidence from one crime scene is compared with evidence
from another using CODIS, those crime scenes can be linked to the same
perpetrator locally, regionally and nationally. ( CODIS stand for Combined DNA
Index System ). It is the core of the national DNA database, established and
funded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and developed specifically to
enable public forensic DNA laboratories to create searchable DNA databases of
authorized DNA profiles. The CODIS software permits laboratories throughout the
country to share and compare DNA data.
When this is not available, other methods may need to be used to collect a
sample of blood, saliva, semen, or other appropriate fluid or tissue from personal
items ex. toothbrush, razor, etc. or from stored samples, ex. banked sperm or
biopsy tissue.
A reference sample is then analyzed to create the individual’s DNA profile using
one of a number of techniques, discussed below. The DNA profile is then
compared against another sample to determine whether there is a genetic match.
DNA profiling ( also called DNA testing, DNA typing, or genetic fingerprinting ) is a
technique employed by forensic doctors to assist in the identification of
individuals on the basis of their respective DNA profiles.
DNA profiles are encrypted sets of numbers that reflect a person’s DNA makeup,
which can also be used as the person’s identifier.
DNA profiling uses repetitive ( repeat sequences ) that are highly variable called
variable number tandem repeats ( VNTR ).
VNTRs loci are very similar between closely related humans, but so variable that
unrelated individuals are extremely unlikely to have the same VNTRs.
CHAPTER 9
VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS
World – wide, motor vehicle collisions lead to significant death and disability as
well as significant financial costs to persons and property and to both society and
the individual
CAUSES:
A 1985 study using UK and US crash reports as data found that
1. 57% of crashes were due solely to driver factors
2. 27% to combined vehicle and driver factors
3. 3% solely to roadway factors
4. 3% to combined roadway, driver and vehicle factors
5. Driver error, intoxication and distraction disturbance contribute wholly or
partly to about 93% of vehicular crashes
ALCOHOL RISK:
- In the United States, a Blood Alcohol Concentration ( BAC ) level of 0.08 or
higher is considered above the legal limit in nearly every state
- The most frequently recorded BAC level among drivers who were killed in
alcohol impaired driving accidents in 2008 was 0.16 or twice the legal limit
- In 2008, 6316 passenger vehicle drivers, were over the BAC legal limit when
car crashes claimed their lives
- In the Philippines, a recent study in 2008 showed that 35.8% of motor
vehicle deaths, were associated with alcohol used
DRUGS
- Drivers taking the commonly prescribed anti – anxiety drugs or tranquilizers
such as Diazepam ( Valium ) are more than twice as likely to be involved in traffic
accident as those not taking the drugs
- The risk of accidents for people under the age of 45 is more than three
times as great for those who take the drugs
- Injured drivers with a blood – alcohol concentration of more than 0.05%
were culpable in nearly 90% of accidents they were involved in.
MEDICINES:
ROAD RAGE
- The aggressive, impulsive and angry behavior of drivers, when confronted
by demanding conditions on the road
- This intermittent explosive disorder is considered a mental disorder, that
requires psychiatric treatment and therapy
PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
- Old age , decreases driver competence, due to poor reflexes and poor
health conditions
- Sleep deprivation in the night, due to long driving time , decreases alertness
and reflexes, thus increasing the risks of vehicular accidents
- Mental and Physical Fatigue also significantly increases vehicular accidents
by 40%
DISTRACTIONS
ROAD SAFETY
PREVENTION:
- Strict enforcement of traffic rules and proper screening of driver applicants,
especially drivers of public utility vehicles are needed
EPIDEMIOLOGY
- Worldwide, it was estimated in 2004 that 1.2 million people were killed
( 2.2% of all deaths ) and 50 million more were injured in motor vehicle collisions
- 6th leading preventable cause of death in the United States is due to motor
vehicle collision
- In the Philippines death due to accident is the 3rd leading cause of death
ECONOMIC COSTS
- The global economic cost of MVC was estimated at 518 billion dollars per
year in 2003 with 100 billion of that occurring in developing countries