Conozca un poco más del trabajo del Instituto de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses

Introduction to Forensic Medicine

Overview of the Segment

• José Luis Guarduortis introduces himself as the Provincial Penal Prosecutor of Lima and welcomes viewers to the segment focused on understanding the new criminal procedural code. He emphasizes the importance of forensic medicine in criminal investigations.

Guest Introduction

• Dr. Lleno de Regra Návila, head of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, is introduced as a guest to discuss the significance of forensic medicine in penal investigations.

Role and Importance of Forensic Medicine

Functions of the Institute

• The Institute serves as the governing body for legal medicine in Peru, providing expertise that aids prosecutors in initiating legal processes based on their findings. It is often mistakenly associated solely with morgues and death investigations.

Areas of Work

• The institute operates across three main areas:

• Forensic Pathology: Involves evaluating deceased individuals due to accidents or crimes, requiring various specialized professionals such as forensic doctors and anthropologists.

• Victim Support: Focuses on victims suffering from injuries due to traffic accidents or domestic violence, including sexual assault cases involving minors which require specialized medical recognition work.

• Specialized Areas: Includes teams working on human rights issues related to exhumations during terrorism investigations and environmental crime cases supported by newly established laboratories for environmental analysis.

Innovative Techniques in Victim Interviews

Use of Camera Gesell

• The Camera Gesell is a facility designed for interviewing child victims without exposing them directly to legal representatives like judges or prosecutors, ensuring a safe environment where only a psychologist interacts with them through video technology. This method helps prevent re-victimization during sensitive inquiries about traumatic events such as sexual abuse.

Institutional Structure and Reach

National Presence

• The Institute has recently celebrated its 29th anniversary and currently operates 197 establishments nationwide, although not all have equal complexity or capabilities; Lima hosts three key reference facilities including a central laboratory for forensic analysis.

Conclusion on Forensic Support

• The discussion concludes by reiterating that the Institute's role is crucial in supporting prosecutors with scientific expertise necessary for effective criminal investigations, highlighting its integral position within Peru's judicial system.