Digital Reconstruction of Digestive Physiology as Legal Evidence in International Justice

This article investigates the use of gastrointestinal (GI) simulation models as evidentiary tools in international legal proceedings, focusing on cases involving allegations of poisoning, starvation as a method of torture, and the unlawful use of biological agents. Through physiologically based modeling of gastric digestion and chemical absorption, it becomes possible to reconstruct how harmful substances interact with the human digestive system over time, offering a scientifically grounded narrative of internal physiological damage. Using a hypothetical forensic reconstruction of an ingested toxin’s passage through the stomach and small intestine, we demonstrate how such models can substantiate expert testimony, establish causal links between actions and bodily harm, and provide judges and juries with a comprehensible visual and quantitative representation of internal injuries. The article critically evaluates the admissibility of such models under international legal standards the Daubert criteria, and explores their ethical implications, such as model transparency, replicability, and potential for evidentiary bias. By highlighting a case-specific application of digestive modeling, this study advocates for the responsible integration of biomedical simulations into the growing body of digital evidence used in international criminal and humanitarian trials.