Winner of The Society of Authors and the Royal Society of Medicine Minty Book Prize 2006 2006 British Medical Association Medical Book Competition - HIGHLY COMMENDED "This collection of authoritative articles is truly encyclopaedic and is a 'must have' reference work." —Dr. Neville Davis, President of the Medico-Legal Society "The Encyclopaedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine provides a valuable reference tool for professionals of all disciplines. Comprehensive description of topics is put into a broader context and allows the reader to delve deeper into specific areas of interest. The narrative flows well and is accompanied by high quality and well-explained illustrations. The chapters are appropriately referenced. This work will be heavily relied upon by those working in forensic and legal medicine and related fields." —Dr. Anthony Bleetman, Consultant in Accident and Emergency Medicine, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer in Surgery, University of Birmingham, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, Centre for Primary Health Care Studies, University of Warwick "In this multivolume encyclopedia, contributors explore the relationship between law, medicine, and science in the study of forensics. An international team of forensic specialists was responsible for covering over one hundred different subjects in this comprehensive reference series. Traditional crime-solving techniques such as autopsies, ballistics, fingerprinting, hair and fiber analysis, and the more sophisticated procedures associated with terrorism investigations, forensic chemistry, DNA, and immunoassays are some of the topics presented. Chapters, arranged in alphabetical order, are written in a clear and concise manner. Definitions are often provided for obscure terms. Information is supplemented by color pictures, tables, and diagrams. Each topic begins with an introduction and ends with a list of additional articles to be used for cross-referencing and further studies. In some instances, case studies further explain a topic, but they are minimal in number. This set should prove to be an excellent resource for professionals working in forensics, lawyers, or medical/graduate students interested in forensic training." Summing Up: Highly recommended. Libraries supporting graduate students and above. —CHOICE Library Journal
"THE FOUR-VOLUME ENCYCLOPEDIA OF Forensic and Legal Medicine is a major undertaking, representing a breakthrough in encompassing forensic medicine, legal medicine, the forensic sciences, and related fields. In delineating the interactions between medicine and the law, it is a pioneering work. Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine covers the gamut of forensic and legal medicine and, in essence, is a complete library of the forensic sciences, including odontology, anthropology, toxicology, entomology, criminalistics, and forensic psychiatry. It also includes legal and technical issues, as well as health care, human rights, and ethics regarding both victims and perpetrators. Subtopics are endless and, to name a few, include the crime scene, DNA profiling, the various abuses suffered by children, police guidelines on postmortem examinations, prints (finger, palm, foot, face, and ear), prions, positional asphyxia, torture, ritualistic crimes, brain death, forensic psychiatry, war crimes, religious beliefs and atheism, various types of traumatic deaths, and decomposition patterns and rates. Many of the references will also have relevance for police, judicial, legal, and other investigative authorities in both providing and collating information. The volumes are highly authoritative, comprehensive, and diverse, consisting of articles by 279 recognized expert contributors from various disciplines. Notably, articles are also edited by a distinguished and expert editorial advisory board. Articles are succinctly written and richly illustrated with tables, diagrams, and highquality photographs, both color and black-and-white, that clearly illustrate the investigative findings and display important relationships. The material is presented as a series of alphabetical entries and is well organized so that the reader can readily locate specific information. To that end, three features are provided: “Contents List,” “Cross References,” and an index. A detailed “Contents” section at the beginning of each volume provides a subject’s volume, page number, and a list of its component articles. This article list is repeated on the first page of the respective subject. Related topics and synonyms are also presented. The extensive cross-references at the ends of articles will lead the reader to additional detailed discussions of a subject, parallel discussions, and to areas that enhance the subject. The subject index is detailed, with three levels of headings, and highlights major discussions, tables, figures, general cross-references, and comparisons. Recommendations for additional reading are another valuable enhancement. The scope of the volumes gives an idea of their specific content. Volume 1 runs from “Accreditation of the Forensic Specialties” to “Courts, Report Writing”; volume 2 from “Crime Scene Investigation and Examination” to “Human Rights, Controls and Principles”; volume 3 from “Identification” to “Ritualistic Crime”; and volume 4 from “Road Traffic Accidents, Airbag-Related Injuries and Deaths” to (the Japanese crime society) “Yakusa.” In between are numerous articles by expert contributors. The Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine is a veritable forensic library. I would recommend it to forensic pathologists, general pathologists, pediatric pathologists, forensic physicians, forensic scientists, coroners, forensic investigators, emergency department physicians, police surgeons, homicide detectives, prosecutors, judges, legal practitioners, pediatricians, primary care physicians, and psychiatrists. - Journal of the American Medical Association This impressive four-volume VADE MECUM (reference manual), which includes contributions from 279 authors from 21 countries, is both comprehensive and timely." —Michael M. Baden, MD, New England Journal of Medicine
"Overall I have the impression that there are detailed articles on a wide range of topics. Each of these has been written by someone eminent in their field. This work in four volumes is aimed not just at specialists but also at the legal profession...This book is an ambitious undertaking and on the whole I (as a forensic physician) am going to find it very useful...I think that the subjects covered will give scientists a starting point and the cross references within the book and suggested reading lists will fill most gaps." —Dr. Lesley Lord, Science and Justice, 2006
