Specifics of ordering a forensic medical examination in the investigation of profit-driven violent crimes

The article is devoted to the study of the specifics of preparing materials and ordering a forensic medical examination during the investigation profit-driven violent crimes. This paper outlines the types of forensic medical examinations that may be appointed during the investigation of profit-driven violent crimes, contingent on the circumstances of the specific criminal case. These include: the examination of corpses in cases of violent death; the examination of victims, accused persons, and other individuals; the examination of physical evidence; and examinations based on criminal case materials. The article specifies the objectives of forensic medical examinations for both living individuals and corpses in investigations of profit-driven violent crimes. These objectives include: establishing the cause of death; determining the degree and nature of bodily harm; identifying the mechanism of injury; determining the weapon, manner, and time of injury infliction; establishing the number of assailants involved in injuring the victim; and identifying the origin and type of blood and other bodily fluids discovered on the victim or suspect. The text highlights that amid the mass loss of life resulting from Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, regional forensic medical examination bureaus are unable to manage the necessary volume of expert analyses promptly and effectively on their own. This results in significant delays in completing forensic examinations. To alleviate the burden on the staff experts at these regional bureaus and to ensure the timely receipt of expert findings, it is proposed to grant private experts legislative permission to conduct forensic medical examinations of living individuals, at least for the duration of martial law in Ukraine. The author formulates standard sets of questions to be addressed by the forensic medical examination of living persons and cadavers during investigations of profit-driven criminal offenses. It is recommended that the examination of a corpse be assigned to the forensic expert who, acting as a specialist, took part in the initial external inspection of the body at its discovery scene. It is recommended that the investigator seek assistance from an appropriate specialist for preparing items for forensic medical examination, drafting questions for the expert, and selecting experts qualified to perform a specific expertise.