Trendy w obszarze działalności eksperckiej i dydaktycznej uniwersyteckich zakładów medycyny sądowej w latach 2011-2024

INTRODUCTION: Consultants appointed in the field of forensic medicine do not directly participate in implementing health policy, monitoring the availability of health services, or conducting inspections of healthcare facilities. The national consultant in forensic medicine is responsible for overseeing the content of undergraduate and postgraduate education, monitoring equipment and the effective use of analytical equipment, preparing opinions on resource assessments and staffing needs, reviewing draft legislation, and initiating epidemiological studies. One way to fulfill these responsibilities was through periodic penetration surveys conducted by the national consultant to provincial consultants and heads of forensic medicine departments (ZMS). PURPOSE: The purpose of this report was to identify trends in the implementation of teaching tasks and the expert activities of university ZMSs based on periodic surveys initiated between 2011 and 2024. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The following national consultant inquiries were analyzed: annual survey of service activities covering the following areas of expertise (since 2011-present): forensic medical opinions; forensic toxicology examinations; forensic genetic analyses; assessment of teaching staff resources and personnel performing expert activities (2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024); verification of research equipment availability (2016, 2021); inquiry regarding the availability of clinical consultants in matters concerning the assessment of the appropriateness of medical procedures (2022); monitoring the scope of teaching provided in individual Medical Schools, taking into account the teaching load in subsequent cycles of education (2016, 2019, 2021, 2024); as well as ongoing monitoring of specialization internships and training courses. RESULTS: The results of regularly repeated surveys enable the identification of trends in the academic model of practicing forensic medicine in Poland, the adaptation of resources to the projected demand for specialized expert services, and the harmonization of educational activities in the context of updating educational standards in medical fields. CONCLUSIONS: The national consultant's mandate does not include taking actions directly aimed at resolving current issues within the discipline. However, during the previous two terms, the author of the report repeatedly expressed his position on matters concerning the community of Polish medical doctors, geneticists, and forensic toxicologists. The data obtained during the aforementioned survey initiatives constituted key arguments in justifying the presented demands.