Aula 2 - Evolução histórica

Summary

This transcript provides an insightful historical overview of forensic sciences, tracing its evolution from the Middle Ages to modern times. It highlights the development of legal medicine and forensic medicine, beginning with the foundational work of Ambrose Paré in the 1500s. The scientific advancements of the 19th century accelerated the progress of forensic sciences, leading to specialized fields such as toxicology and criminalistics. The growth of forensic science in Brazil, especially after the establishment of its first forensic institute in 1922, is also covered. Despite being a young field in Brazil, it continues to improve through ongoing investment and innovation to ensure its effectiveness in aiding justice.

Takeaways

• 😀 The roots of forensic sciences can be traced back to medieval times (around 1200), with early developments in legal medicine.
• 😀 Forensic medicine, which applies medical knowledge in the service of justice, laid the foundation for modern forensic sciences.
• 😀 In the 1500s, Ambrose Paré published the first treatise on forensic medicine, dominating the field during that period in Europe.
• 😀 The 19th century marked the expansion of forensic science, with a focus on scientific, rational, and positivistic approaches, moving away from the philosophical and spiritualistic perspectives of earlier centuries.
• 😀 Forensic science in Brazil began through the Rio de Janeiro Medical School in the 1800s, with the field being formally regulated in 1854.
• 😀 The first Medical Legal Institute in Brazil was established in 1922 by Oscar Freire, marking the beginning of formal forensic medicine in the country.
• 😀 Forensic medicine evolved from a macro analysis of human bodies to micro-level investigations, including cells, bacteria, and other technological advances.
• 😀 The rise of forensic sciences led to the emergence of criminalistics, which covers specialized fields such as toxicology, chemistry, and document analysis.
• 😀 The term 'criminalistics' was first coined by Hans Gross in the 19th century, focusing on the technical application of science in criminal investigations.
• 😀 In Brazil, criminalistics was introduced in 1947 and the first Brazilian treatise on criminalistics was written in 1987 by Benedito Paula de Cunha.
• 😀 Despite its relatively young status in Brazil, forensic science faces challenges like insufficient funding, resources, and staff, but there are ongoing efforts to improve the field and enhance its reliability and effectiveness in justice.

Q & A

What is the historical origin of forensic sciences?

Forensic sciences, specifically forensic medicine, trace their origin back to the medieval period, around the 1200s, with the knowledge and practices related to legal medicine already being recognized by then.

What is forensic medicine?

Forensic medicine is the application of medical knowledge to the law, primarily for justice purposes, involving the analysis of medical aspects related to criminal investigations.

How did forensic medicine evolve during the 1500s?

In the 1500s, the first treatise on forensic medicine was published by Ambroise Paré, which significantly influenced the field in Europe during that period.

What key scientific advancements influenced forensic medicine in the 19th century?

The 19th century witnessed an explosion of scientific rationalism, with a strong focus on positivism and empirical science. This helped to advance forensic medicine by moving away from philosophical or spiritual explanations toward more rigorous, scientific methods.

What role did Brazil play in the development of forensic medicine?

Brazil's entry point into forensic medicine was through the Medical School of Rio de Janeiro in the 1800s, and the profession was officially regulated in 1854. The first Medical Legal Institute was established in Rio de Janeiro in 1922.

How did the scope of forensic science expand over time?

The scope of forensic science grew with the development of specialized techniques for analyzing not just bodies but also a variety of evidence such as blood, fingerprints, saliva, gunpowder residues, and more. This led to the development of criminalistics.

What is criminalistics, and how did it evolve?

Criminalistics is a specialized branch of forensic science that emerged to address the need for specific expertise in areas like toxicology, forensic chemistry, document analysis, and others. It evolved from forensic medicine due to the increasing complexity of criminal investigations.

Who coined the term 'criminalistics' and when?

The term 'criminalistics' was first coined by Hans Gross, an Austrian jurist, in the 1800s. He recognized the need for scientific methods to enhance the justice system.

When did criminalistics first appear in Brazil, and what is its significance?

The term 'criminalistics' was introduced in Brazil in 1947 at the First Technical Scientific Police Congress in São Paulo. The first Brazilian treatise on criminalistics was published in 1987, marking a significant step in the development of forensic science in the country.

What challenges does forensic science face in Brazil?

Forensic science in Brazil faces challenges such as insufficient resources, a lack of trained personnel, and budget limitations. These factors hinder the effectiveness of forensic investigations, despite ongoing efforts to improve the system.