LEGAL MEDICINE

MID-TERM EXAMS
1ST SEMESTER, 2019-2020

NAME: PALASAN, MICHELLE GAY A. ____________________DATE: November 09, 2020_____

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Write you family name first
2. Do not forget your school logo and department logo
3. Adjust space accordingly.

QUESTIONS:

1. Compare and contrast Legal Medicine from Medical Jurisprudence

- As defined, Legal Medicine is a branch of medicine that applies scientific knowledge and
skills and medical and surgical concepts to any medico-legal issues. Thus, assists the trier of
facts to properly mete out or dispense justice. It also applies medical knowledge, including
the application of basic clinical, medical, and paramedical sciences to administer justice and
for other legal purposes. On the other hand, Medical Jurisprudence is a study of the medical
law, including its applicable jurisprudence that governs, regulates and defines medical
practice, and its legal aspects, knowledge, doctrine and legal concepts. It also includes
medical education, medical practice, and medical regulation.

2. Compare and contrast Legal Death from Clinical or Somatic Death

- Legal Death occurs when there is presence of brain stem death, regardless if the heart is still
beating. During this time, the doctors shall issue a Death Certificate and make the necessary
arrangements to harvest organs and tissues for those who signed up as organ donors. On
the other hand, Clinical or Somatic Death is a type of death declared by the physician after
using the clinical eye and judgment. This happens after thorough evaluation of the body’s
vital signs proving that the life cease to exist continuously and permanently. Meaning, the
patient has no pulse rate, no spontaneous breathing and movement, no heartbeat, and
widely dilated pupils and unresponsive to light and accommodation.

3. Compare and contrast rigor mortis from cadaveric spasm

- Rigor mortis and cadaveric spasm are two types of changes in the muscle following the
death of a human body. Rigor Mortis is the generalized muscular contraction within 3 to 6
hours following death. It may simulate a return to life due to the movement of the body. It
can be used to estimate the length of time that the body has been dead within 3 to 36 hours
following death. On the other hand, the cadaveric spasm is the immediate or instantaneous
spasm or rigidity of the skeletal muscles that occurs at the moment of death due to
exhaustion, violence or any inflicted physical injuries, etc. It usually manifests the position of
the body at the time of death.

4. What is Euthanasia?
- Euthanasia is a deliberate and painless intervention undertaken of ending life to relieve
intractable suffering. It may or may not have the express intention of the patient.
5. Differentiate each classification of euthanasia
- The classification of euthanasia are as follows:
a. Voluntary euthanasia is a classification conducted with consent.
b. Involuntary euthanasia is a classification conducted without consent because the
concerned individual is incapable of deciding for oneself. Thus, a different individual
decides for the former. It is also known as physician assisted death, physician assisted
suicide or mercy killing.
c. Passive euthanasia is conducted by withholding the common treatments.
d. Active euthanasia is conducted by using lethal substances or forces to end life. It is the
most controversial means.