Date: 17 and 24 January 2025 (This course will take place over two consecutive Fridays)
Venue: Faculty of Health Sciences campus
Time: 09h00 to 15h00
Course fee R 2,000 per person
Register Online
This course offers a framework for ethical and legal principles of routine forensic mortuary practice.
The course will cover main laws governing autopsies in South Africa and demonstrate how the principles of health professional ethics conduct underpin professional behaviour for all workers in the forensic mortuary setting. The course will also provide guidelines to avoid conflict of interest in the mortuary setting and bias and guidelines for professional conduct during court testimony.
The program will be run in-person at the University of Cape Town Health Science Campus over two days. Each day will include formal presentations and small group interactive sessions, ending with a question-and-answer interaction. An optional assessment will be available.
Who should attend
The course will benefit those who already have some experience in forensic mortuaries, forensic science laboratories dealing with specimens retained from deceased persons and DNA analysis, specifically:
• Forensic pathology practitioners dealing with deceased persons
• Scientists involved in teaching and research forensic specimens
Entry requirements: Employed as a Forensic Pathology Officer
Course Content:
Day 1:
Laws governing the forensic autopsies in SA
Medico-legal death administration and document management
Medico-legal sworn statements- practical demonstration
Medico-legal solemn declaration– practical demonstration
Day 2:
Introduction to ethical code of conduct in healthcare and mortuary setting
Professional conduct in court
Identifying and managing conflict of interest and bias in forensic mortuary
Case scenarios (interactive group discussions)
At the end of the course participants will be able to apply basic ethical principles to everyday challenges in forensic mortuary practice.
A digital certificate of completion will be issued to participants who successfully complete the course.
For more information or to register email ce.administration@uct.ac.za