La participación del médico forense en la escena del crimen / The participation of the forensic physician in the crime scene

Resumen El análisis científico de la escena del crimen es de trascendental importancia en la investigación judicial. Es función de un equipo, del cual el médico forense es parte obligatoria. El conocimiento de las circunstancias y antecedentes del hecho investigado, junto con el estudio del lugar y del cadáver, constituyen elementos indispensables para el correcto abordaje del cuerpo en la necropsia; de esta manera, se cumplirá con el objetivo primordial del trabajo pericial médico forense: contribuir al esclarecimiento de la comisión de un hecho delictivo con resultado de muerte. En este artículo se ofrece una actualización del tema de la participación del médico forense en la escena del crimen, considerando la realidad de la práctica pericial médico legal en Panamá.

Abstract The scientific analysis of the crime scene is of transcendental importance in the judicial investigation. It is a function of a team, of which the forensic physician is an indispensable part. Knowledge of the circumstances and background of the researched fact, together with the study of the place and the corpse, constitute essential elements for the correct approach to the body at postmortem examination; in this way, the primary objective of the forensic medical expert work: contribute to the elucidation of the commission of a criminal act resulting in death, will be accomplished. This article offers an update of the theme of the participation of the forensic physician at the scene of the crime, considering the reality of the medicolegal practice in Panamá.

O trabalho vivo de profissionais que lidam com a morte / The living work of workers who deal with death

Este artigo apresenta resultados de pesquisa realizada no Núcleo de Medicina e Odontologia Legal (NUMOL) de Campina Grande (PB). Objetiva mostrar a atividade de trabalho, evidenciando os fatores de risco e as estratégias de defesa utilizadas para enfrentá-los e subvertê-los. Os pressupostos teóricos e metodológicos se basearam nas abordagens da Ergonomia Situada e da Psicodinâmica do Trabalho. Foram feitas 15 observações sistemáticas do trabalho e quatro entrevistas coletivas com as equipes do NUMOL. Identificaram-se os fatores de risco biossanitário, ergonômico, de acidentes e psicológico. Percebeu-se a mobilização dos trabalhadores diante das variabilidades, na cooperação no trabalho e na elaboração de estratégias de defesa. Concluiu-se que os trabalhadores são ativos, usam os saberes de prudência e elaboram estratégias de defesa para se proteger dos riscos e transformar o sofrimento.

This article presents the results of a research which took place in the NUMOL (Center for Forensic Medicine and Odontology) of Campina Grande (PB, Brazil). It shows the work activity and highlights the risk factors, as well as the defense strategies used to confront and transform such risks. The theoretical approaches and methods used are the Located Ergonomics and Work Psychodynamic. Fifteen work systematic observations and four interviews with NUMOL teams were made. We identified biohealth, ergonomic, psychological, and accident risk factors. It was realized that workers are mobilized in face of the work variability through work cooperation, developing defense strategies. It was concluded that workers are active and use their knowledge of prudence elaborating strategies to protect themselves from the risks of work and to transform the suffering.