The actions of forensic investigators and examiners are governed by the code of ethics. Even though the rules of conduct in forensics are especially strict, some workers might still violate such prohibitions (Laporte, 2016). Considering the implications of forensic employees’ actions is essential for the consequences of their work. In this paper, several issues caused by an individual’s unethical behavior will be discussed, and a case pertaining to this topic will be presented.
Decisions made by a medico-legal professional are highly significant to consider. Firstly, a forensic scientist’s conclusions directly impact the outcomes of a particular case, changing the lives of people connected to this incident (Laporte, 2016). Improper actions undertaken by an examiner might result in a wrongful accusation, incarcerating an innocent person (Laporte, 2016). Moreover, if a forensic employee’s unethical behavior is uncovered, all the cases regarding this individual’s work will be subject to re-examination (Passalacqua & Pilloud, 2018). Reviewing each legal instance’s materials can prove to be exceptionally strenuous, especially if the case was first investigated a long time ago.
A striking example of forensic misconduct can be seen in the case of Roza Jimenez. The woman was first accused of child abuse and murder in 2003 when a toddler she babysat for accidentally choked to death (Selby, 2020).
The medico-legal investigation into this case was relatively short, as the court representatives assumed Jimenez’s fault (Selby, 2020). However, two years later, the case was reviewed the second time, and the initial statements of medical professionals were proved to be incautious and emotionally charged (Selby, 2020). According to the experts, the trial’s conclusions were not based on relevant scientific evidence and thus framed Jimenez for an event that happened accidentally (Selby, 2020). Even though relevant facts of her inability to forcefully choke the child were provided, and the woman’s innocence was declared, the court has still not produced a final decision (Selby, 2021). The case of Roza Jimenez is a worrying representation of consequences that can transpire due to unethical forensic conduct.
References
Laporte, G. (2017). Wrongful convictions and DNA exonerations: Understanding the role of forensic science. National Institute of Justice Journal, 279, 10–25. Web.
Passalacqua, N. V., & Pilloud, M. A. (2018). Ethics and professionalism in forensic anthropology. Academic Press.
Selby, D. (2020). A judge overturned her conviction on her last birthday, but she’s still in prison a year later. Innocence Project. Web.
Selby, D. (2021). ‘I’m where I’m supposed to be’: Rosa Jimenez reunites with her children after 17 years of wrongful imprisonment. Innocence Project. Web.