Istanbul Protocol Documentation Form for Police Detention Isolators in Georgia

Background: The Istanbul Protocol, which was first published in 1999, is a globally recognized set of best practices that States are required to investigate cases of torture and by which medical and legal professionals are expected to assess allegations of torture, compile survivor cases, and provide credible evidence.Objective: Istanbul Protocol (IP) implementation requires analysis of current legal norms and methodologies in forensic medical practice.Of most importance are the changes in methods of adequate medical documentation in different medical settings, including civil and parallel healthcare systems.Methods: Both retrograde and forward current evaluations of the forensic documentation practice were performed.We performed a systemic SWAT analysis of the scope of implementation of Istanbul Protocol standards.Results: Several gaps and weak points were noticed and analyzed in forensic medical documentation in police detention isolators in Georgia.Of particular interest was the examination and documentation of injuries of detained individuals that must be prompt and thorough, regulations related to the forms of forensic evaluations, medical interview, and examination practice, informed consent for forensic medical examinations, and so on.Challenges in forensic medical documentation were addressed, especially the challenges of informed consent, comprehensive medical examination more than just dermatological evaluations, the confidentiality of information, prompt forensic medical evaluations, forensic medical opinion forming, and interpretation of medical findings.As part of the IP implementation activities in Georgia, the particular documentation form for police detention isolators was introduced.Conclusions: The adoption of the Istanbul Protocol in Georgia has brought about many good improvements in the field of forensic medical documentation; yet, there are still obstacles that arise, mainly in relation to the actual application of new legal rules and international standards.It may be suggested to implement an efficient system for the control and quality assurance of medical records across various medical facilities.This will improve the efficiency of forensic medical procedures and records and expand the ability to look into claims of torture and other forms of ill-treatment in compliance with the Istanbul Protocol's standards.