INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS, TRAUMA & VICTIMOLOGY

Beyond the Screen: The Expanding Role of Forensic Nursing in Managing Cybercrime Victimisation

Rakesh K Gorea — 2025-08-14

Cybercrime victimisation holds significant relevance in the present-day scenario of criminal activities around the world. Cybercrime victimisation occurs in many different ways. It may be from cyberbullying to digital stalking, revenge pornography to online sexual exploitation, and online platforms being used for human trafficking, to name a few examples. For solving these cases, forensic evidence is needed. Forensic nurses need to know how to respond to such cases when these cases are brought to them. They need knowledge about these crimes to effectively deal with them and report them. Forensic Nurses require skills to solve such cases by identifying, collecting and preserving the related pieces of online evidence. They should be able to make foolproof documentation in such cases.
They need to provide trauma-informed care to such victims and should be able to provide first aid in mental health care in such cases, in addition to their routine roles as forensic nurses. They will be required to work in collaboration with cyber experts to deal with the digital evidence, taking due care of their legal mandates as well as taking care of the ethical aspects in such cases.
Forensic nurses must have digital literacy. They should have an awareness of different types of digital crimes and how to collect online evidence of digital crime to successfully prosecute the culprits of digital crime.

Reassessing Poroscopy: Obsolete or Underrated? A Research Article

Venugopal T — 2025-08-14

Poroscopy, the study of sweat pores on friction ridge skin, is an important sub-discipline of dermatoglyphics with applications in forensic science and biometric identification. Despite its established forensic value, limited data exist on poroscopic patterns in young adult populations, particularly among medical students.
To analyse the poroscopic patterns in fingerprints of 200 undergraduate medical students and evaluate any variations based on sex and digit type.
A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 200 undergraduate medical students (100 males and 100 females). Fingerprint impressions were collected using standard ink methods. Pore characteristics—including pore frequency, shape (round, oval, elongated), arrangement, and position—were analysed under magnification. Statistical analysis was performed to determine sex-based and digit-based differences.
The average pore frequency per centimetre was significantly higher in females compared to males (p < 0.05). Round pores were the most prevalent shape across all fingers, while elongated pores were the least common. A notable asymmetry in pore distribution was observed between dominant and non-dominant hands. The middle and index fingers showed the highest pore density. No significant association was found between pore pattern and academic stress or lifestyle factors.
The study establishes baseline poroscopic patterns among young Indian adults in a medical academic setting. Findings suggest gender and finger-based variation in pore characteristics, supporting the forensic relevance of poroscopy in individual identification. Further research with larger, more diverse populations is recommended to expand on these observations

Post-mortem Analysis of Burn Injury Cases in Forensic Medicine: A Medicolegal Perspective

Md. Syedur Rahaman Sumon — 2025-08-14

Even before the primitive man learnt to use fire, he had been a victim of it. Our study was carried out for 1 year, starting from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019 at Sir Salimullah Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, on burn deaths. The aim and objective of the study were to know the demographic pattern, cause of death and relation of the body surface involved.
The rate of burn death was 7.63% of the total autopsies. Male victims outnumbered female victims with a female to male ratio of approximately 2.1:1. The Majority of the cases belong to the adolescent and young adult (21- 30 years) age group. The maximum no. of victims was married. In most of the fatal period was within 6 hours. Most of the deaths occurred when >50% of TBSA is involved. Most of the victims died within 1 to 3 days. The major cause of death in burns was septicemia.

Reframing Harm: Ethical Gaps in Trauma Informed Dental Care in India

Arya Sabnis — 2025-08-07

Domestic violence (DV) significantly impacts one’s oral and maxillofacial health, with patients experiencing it often presenting to dental settings with unexplained trauma and a confusing history. Most common clinical manifestations of the same may include visible bruises, lacerations, tooth fractures and even temporomandibular joint disorders. Injuries of the oro-facial regions may be the first visible signs and, ironically, the hidden indicators of abuse, thereby putting dental surgeons at the forefront in suspected DV cases. The Dental Council of India emphasises patient confidentiality in the information entrusted by the patient unless the laws of the state require a revelation for medicolegal cases. There is a lack of a specific code of conduct concerning known or suspected DV cases. There are a few law enforcement helplines available for reporting such cases, like the Domestic Violence Helpline (1091) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) Helpline. However, when compared with the mandatory reporting laws in countries like the U.S. and Australia, Indian protocols remain vague and optional. There is a significant knowledge gap among the Indian dental professionals regarding how to properly identify DV while diagnosing a patient, documentation of cases and reporting procedures worsened by insufficient training and the dentist’s agitation concerning legal implications. This article highlights the urgent need for incorporating structured information and awareness programs in dental curricula and continuing dental education. In conclusion, reinforcing dentists with knowledge and clear reporting channels is critical for timely intervention, ensuring that neither ethical compliance nor victim protection is compromised through the process.

Clinical Judgment and Limitations in Prenatal Imaging: No Negligence Originates

Mukesh Yadav — 2025-08-07

A child after birth had significant abnormalities, underdevelopment of the Fetal Femur Length, lumbar and sacrum. This type of abnormality can be detected in an ultrasound before birth, for which the doctors get an ultrasound done for prenatal care. All the findings were indicated as normal. On repeated ultrasounds at different intervals report was given as normal development.
Following the birth of her child, the MRI revealed that the child’s lower lumbar spine and sacrum were either absent or severely underdeveloped.
In a complaint before DCDRC, the complaint was allowed, directing the opposite party to pay damages. In an appeal preferred by Doctor/Hospital, SCDRC did not find medical negligence and the Impugned judgment and order passed by the District Commission, Haridwar, was set aside

An Analysis of the Psychological and Legal Dimension of Child-Maltreated Victimisation and Its Consequences on Mental Health

Manisha Agrahari — 2025-08-07

Maltreatment of children is defined as the neglect or abuse of children younger than eighteen. In the context of an association of responsibility, trust, or power, it encompasses all forms of physical and possibly emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, carelessness, and commercial or other forms of exploitation that cause real or possible damage to the child’s health, survival, development, or dignity. The prevalence of child abuse is still too high, and it will probably worsen as long as COVID-related economic issues persist. To prevent, identify, and address child abuse, a thorough and evidence-based strategy is required. Impaired mental and physical well-being throughout life is among the effects of child abuse, and its societal and professional repercussions might eventually impede a nation’s social and economic advancement.1 Maltreatment of children is frequently concealed. Only a small percentage of abused children ever receive assistance from medical experts. Although there is a correlation between mental health issues and childhood abuse, it is unclear how causative this association is. A serious public health issue, bullying in kids raises the likelihood of negative health, social, and educational outcomes during childhood and adolescence. All parties involved in bullying—bullies, victims, and bully-victims—experience these repercussions, which are now known to last far into adulthood. Apart from the conventional kinds of bullying, which include direct physical, direct verbal, and indirect bullying, cyberbullying is a relatively recent form of bullying. Very few new victims are generated by cybercrime since most victims are already victims of conventional bullying. In general, bully-victims are the ones who suffer the most from the negative mental health effects of childhood bullying. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals includes avoiding bullying, and the best evidence for effective results comes from whole-school cooperative learning programs.2
Eliminating vulnerability is a top concern, and preventing violence requires a public health strategy. Challenging childhood raises the chance of a number of negative effects throughout life, according to research conducted worldwide. This study looked at the relationship between experiencing a buzz with children and the likelihood of experiencing assault by force, abuse by intimate partners and sexual harassment as an adult.3
The importance of current neurocognitive results in offering a multilayered framework for conceptualising mental health vulnerability after abuse is then covered, building on earlier studies.4 We also examine how changed neurocognitive functioning after abuse may explain why impacted children are far more inclined to experience peer victimisation. We specifically look at the threat, encouragement, and psychological recall systems and how they relate to social thinning, stress creation, and stress vulnerability. To shift to a preventative approach of behavioural health care and lessen the possibility of peer victimisation among children exposed to abuse, such mechanistic knowledge is required.

Identification of Unknown Dead Bodies: Integrating AI and Forensic Biometrics in Facial Recognition, Fingerprint Databases, Forensic Odontology, and DNA Profiling

Shilekh Mittal — 2025-08-07

The identification of unknown dead bodies is a pivotal process in forensic medicine, with implications for law enforcement, public health, disaster victim management, and human rights. Conventionally, biometric techniques such as facial recognition, fingerprinting, Forensic odontology, and DNA profiling have been used to establish identity. However, these methods can face significant limitations, especially in cases involving decomposition, mutilation, or a lack of comparative data. The recent integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with forensic biometrics has dramatically enhanced the accuracy, efficiency, and scalability of identification processes. AI algorithms can analyse massive datasets, learn from patterns, and assist in automated decision-making, offering superior performance over traditional manual techniques. This review explores the synergy between AI and key forensic modalities, examines their real-world applications, highlights the challenges in implementation, and considers future directions for a comprehensive and ethically sound Forensic identification framework.

Humanitarian Forensic Approaches in Forensic Nursing for Victim Management: A Vindicative Case of Victim’s Reunion with Family

Sunit Bhalerao — 2025-08-07

Forensic Nursing is one of the most evolving specialties in Nursing science. Forensic nursing has been conventionally considered a nursing science disciplinethat is more related to support and assistance in medicolegal cases. But in addition to this, it is also a skill of rendering comprehensive care to the victims of any trauma, violence, abuse, neglect and disasters. This sort of ideological humanitarian forensic approach has been referred to, in this article, as a case study which was found to be unique. For the obvious reason of maintaining professional secrecy and integrity of both the victim and the hospital where the person was treated, the identity has not been revealed/ disclosed (instead named as X). The above-stated person X was a victim of forced migration and was a mentally ill individual. The victim belonged to the state of Maharashtra and was reunited with the family after being provided and compassionate care by the prospective students of Forensic Nursing during their clinical posting. This case reveals the importance of forensic nursing with the holistic humanitarian approach, with the orientation of reuniting the victim with family.

Road Traffic Accident, Drowning and Secondary Drowning: Case Series

Ashish Mittal — 2025-08-07

Road traffic accidents (RTAs) commonly result in deaths due to blunt force trauma; however, in certain environmental conditions, drowning can become a primary cause of mortality. We present a series of six cases following a road traffic accident where a bus plunged into a drain after colliding with a truck. Five passengers died at the scene due to drowning, while one succumbed two days later to secondary complications consistent with drowning-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This report highlights the forensic features of drowning and secondary drowning and emphasises the importance of meticulous autopsy examinations in multi-causal deaths following vehicular accidents.

Revolutionising Digital Forensic Facial Reconstruction: Recent Advances and Emerging Trends

Arjun Kundu — 2025-08-14