SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Forensic Medicine 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
94828  Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Forensic Medicine 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Free State 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  144  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to train registered healthcare practitioners as experts in the Clinical Forensic Medicine field. This qualification emphasises the investment in and necessity for scarce skills development, the building of specialised capacity and advanced competency in the field of Medicine, in particular Clinical Forensic Medicine, within the context of advanced learning.

These professionals will develop an in-depth knowledge of the clinical and legal aspects of violence, crime, transportation injuries and medical practice that will enable them to present evidence to the courts of law and interpret for them medical evidence gained through the application of technical and analytical skills acquired in this qualification.

Rationale:
The unenviable rates of violent crimes such as rape and sexual assault, physical assault, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect, as well as transportation injuries and the recent growth in the awareness of abuses of human rights and civil liberties. This has resulted in the need of appropriate human rights policies to be implemented and also to raise the profile of Clinical Forensic Medicine as a specialist field of study. Clinical Forensic Medicine is concerned with the condition of detention for prisoners and the application of justice for the victim and the suspect. The necessity for specialists in the field is evident, but expansion and growth of this specialist area depends on specialised training in forensic evidence collection, criminal procedures in-depth knowledge of medical law, ethical practice and legal testimony expertise.

This discipline is officially recognised by the Medical and Dental Professional Board, the College of Medicine of South Africa and approved by the Health Professions Council of South Africa. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Each learner will be considered according to the institution's RPL policy and guidelines. The learner will be thoroughly briefed on the mechanism to be used and the appropriate support/guidance will be provided. The process will provide the learner with an opportunity to demonstrate competence in the relevant learning areas/outcomes and will not prevent him/her from taking up the RPL option towards attempting to gain the qualification.

If the learner is able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit in this qualification the appropriate credits will be assigned to him/her. RPL will be achieved by means of an appropriate integrated assessment method as mentioned above.

This RPL may allow a successful learner:
  • Accelerated access to further learning at this or higher levels on the NQF.
  • Obtaining of this qualification in part or in whole.

    Entry Requirements:
    Admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Forensic Medicine is subjected to the General Institutional Rules and Regulations for Advanced and Postgraduate Qualifications, as well as discipline specific requirements determined by the Faculty of Health Sciences and the School of Medicine.

    Learners may register for the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Forensic Medicine:
  • Working as a professional within the Health Professions environment.
  • In possession of a Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) or a relevant equivalent qualification on NQF exit Level8, or a relevant NQF Level 7 qualification in a cognate field of study, such as Nursing.
  • Is registered with the Independent Practice Medical Practitioner with the Health Professions Council of South Africa or equivalent for the country of origin.
    In the case of foreign learners who are not fully registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), or the South African Nursing Council (SANC), each case will be dealt with on merit according to the prescriptions of the HPCSA and SANC. If successful, these candidates may obtain a Postgraduate Diploma, but will not be able to practice in South Africa without approval and Registration with the HPCSA and SANC. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of 10 compulsory modules at NQF Level 8, totalling 144 Credits:
  • Medical Law and Ethics, 20 Credits.
  • Applied Forensic Pathology, 20 Credits.
  • Sexual Offences, 20 Credits.
  • Traffic Medicine, 12 Credits.
  • Clinical Toxicology for Medical Forensic Investigators, 12 Credits.
  • Child Abuse, 12 Credits.
  • Medical evidence and forensic science, 12 Credits.
  • Social context of crimes, 12 Credits.
  • Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, 12 Credits.
  • Custodial Medicine Torture, and Trafficking in Persons, 12 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Provide emotional care of victims and reconstruction of their support systems within their social context.
    2. Demonstrate and critically review participation in the legal process for alleged perpetrators within legal and ethical parameters.
    3. Critically review and collect medico-legal specimens appropriately by adhering to principles of quality assurance and legal admissibility.
    4. Criticise the methods and procedures for documenting clinical and medico-legal findings for presentation and interpretation to the medico legal stakeholders.
    5. Evaluate and identify factors related to the correctional institutional environment.
    6. Demonstrate the use of methods and procedures related to the acts regarding the Mental Healthcare Act.
    7. Develop creative alternatives of managing information on ethics and medical law. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Communication with the patient, other health care workers and the community is conducted efficiently and effectively in order to obtain a history, to explain the medico-legal process.
  • Problem-solving techniques which draw multi-faceted knowledge is used in order to arrive at medical diagnosis; arrive at medico-legal conclusion; and holistically manage the case of the patient.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Confidence is shown whilst interviewing and examining an individual suspected, accused or convicted of committing a crime within ethical and legal boundaries.
  • Independence from law enforcement officers while attending to a patient is demonstrated.
  • Previous management or handling of suspects, accused and convicts is evaluated according to the different protocols and declarations of various international organisations.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Possible evidential value of fluids or stains for collection from a medico legal patient is evaluated.
  • Knowledge of common pitfalls in specimen collection, specimen preservation, specimen custody and specimen transportation is understood that can invalidate the tests.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Knowledge of the history of the signs and symptoms commonly applied in clinical forensic medicine is demonstrated.
  • The use of current techniques for examination, interpretation and recording of medico legal findings and conclusions are advocated.
  • Medical findings and medico legal conclusions are presented in plain language, avoiding technical jargon.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Independence from management and correctional facility officers is demonstrated while attending to patients in their custody.
  • Previous management or handling of convicts according to the different protocols and declarations of various international organisations is evaluated.
  • Torture is diagnosed and victims are managed holistically.
  • Risk factors for suicide and/or homicide of individuals in custody are identified and managed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • The committing of an individual for observation is managed.
  • The admission of voluntary and involuntary mental healthcare users in line with the act is managed.
  • An individual is assessed for fitness to stand trial.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Medico legal reports that are user friendly are produced.
  • Different levels of technological advances between the different fields in which clinical forensic medicine is practices are aligned.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Applied competence will be demonstrated through a variety of formative assessment methods such as:
  • Portfolios.
  • Simulations.
  • Workplace assessments and practical workbooks/logbooks.
  • Written assignments.
  • Written tests.
  • Case studies and case presentations.
  • Problem based assessments.
  • Peer group projects and assignments.
  • Oral presentations.
  • Competency assessment of clinical skills.
    As well as examinations as summative assessment. The focus will be on the integration of theory into practice. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Develop practitioners' skills in providing forensic services in the community.

    Topics include:
    medicine and science in the service of the law, including the organisation of the medical profession; biomedical forensic science; scientific evidence and its collection at the scene of a crime; forensic chemistry; forensic photography; firearm examination and tool marks; fingerprint evidence; forensic pathology; forensic odontology and the identification of victims; traffic medicine; the examination of victims of assault; DNA evidence in the courts; prototypes of police investigation; the State Coroner's system; forensic psychiatry and psychology and issues of criminal responsibility; medico-legal reports in the courts.

    The University College of Dublin:
    The University College of Dublin in Ireland offers the Graduate Diploma Forensic Medicine:
  • Provides an entry point for specialist professional training in forensic medicine.
  • Enhances presentation and court-room skills.
  • Suitable qualification for professionals undertaking medicolegal work within their existing areas of specialty.

    Completion denotes eligibility to complete Master of Science in Forensic Medicine by dissertation.

    Qualification Purpose:
    This course provides training and qualification in forensic medicine for doctors of all specialities, dentists, nurses, midwives and other health professionals practising forensic medicine. The qualification will provide training for doctors working in the field of forensic medicine leading to the award of a Postgraduate Diploma and provide the basic skills for the practice of forensic.

    Areas of study:
    History and future of forensic medicine; the use of libraries and IT resources; medical and legal investigative research skills; introduction to law and legislation; ethical aspects of medical practice; the judicial system and courts; law enforcement agencies; custody medicine; substance misuse; mental health; deaths; injuries; scenes of crime and investigation; forensic sciences; role of coroner; traffic medicine, drugs and alcohol; adult sexual offences; children and abuse; domestic violence; vulnerable witnesses; major incidents; employment, finance and practice management; occupational and public health; infectious diseases.

    Conclusion:
    From the evidence collected it is clear that this qualification compares favourably with that of the international qualifications. There is similarities between the articulation, the topics being covered as well the purpose of the qualifications. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma Clinical Forensic Medicine enables both horizontal and vertical articulation with cognate qualifications. In meeting the requirements students may progress vertically to a Master's or NQF Exit Level 9 qualifications in cognate study areas such as medical law or forensic medicine for example:
  • Master of Medicine in Forensic Medicine at NQF Level 9.

    In addition, successful learners master several field-specific and generic competences serving as an important interface for integration with diverse qualifications and disciplines within the health care environment such as forensic scientists, psychologists, social workers, etc., thus providing for meaningful horizontal articulation to other cognate Degrees in Medicine or applicable Health care qualification such as:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Health Care at NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2015. 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. University of the Free State 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.