Forensic medicine in the next century: Some ethical challenges

The authors, after having defined the concepts of ethics, morality, and leg ality debate the main ethical problems that forensic medicine will face in the next century. The authors foresee that the technological advancement wi ll present imposing challenges, including those concerning genetic manipula tion and the keeping of confidentiality regarding electronic files. On the other hand old problems will recur, the most important being the vital ques tion of research with prisoners and the use of torture by agents of the sta te. The authors also discuss the role of the forensic physician in these co ntexts and conclude that there isa need for international legislative mecha nisms that would establish a set of explicit rules of behavior thus diminis hing the possibility of ethical dilemmas.