Applications of Forensic Medicine and Science for Insurance Purposes-A Broad Overview

Forensic medicine and science are scientific disciplines where scientific (and medical) knowledge is applied to arrive at justice. They fundamentally assist the legal system (civil and criminal justice system) in a country by providing expert opinions to courts regarding medical and scientific matters beyond the comprehension of the legal fraternity. Likewise, these disciplines could extend their assistance in the field of insurance when certain issues arise which may seem contradicting with the accepted principles of insurance or with the terms and conditions of the policy. Insurance is a legal contract between the insurer (the insurance company) and the insured where the insurer undertakes the risk on behalf of the insured and agrees to provide financial protection against potential losses, damages or liabilities in exchange of a premium paid by the insured. An insurance policy is a detailed document comprising of declarations, agreement, exclusions, conditions, definitions and endorsements. Insurance may take many different forms including life, health, automobile, property, disability, travel and business. This article briefly explains the applications of forensic medicine and science in certain important areas of insurance.