Considering forensic science: individual differences,opposing expert testimony and juror decision making

Two experimental studies examined the effect of opposing expert testimony on perceptions of the reliability of unvalidated forensic evidence (anthropometric facial comparison). In the first study argument skill and epistemological sophistication were included as measures of individual differences, whereas study two included scores on the Forensic Evidence Evaluation Bias Scale. In both studies participants were assigned to groups who heard: (1) no expert testimony, (2) prosecution expert testimony, or (3) prosecution and opposing expert testimony. Opposing expert testimony affected verdict choice, but this effect was mediated by perceptions of reliability of the initial forensic expert's method. There was no evidence for an effect on verdict or reliability ratings by argument skill or epistemology. In the second experiment, the same mediation effect was found, however scores on one subscale from the FEEBS and age also affected both verdict and methodological reliability. It was concluded that opposing expert testimony may inform jurors, but perceptions of the reliability of forensic evidence affect verdict, and age and bias towards forensic science influence perceptions of forensic evidence. Future research should investigate individual differences that may affect perception or bias towards forensic sciences under varying conditions of scientific reliability.     

Toluene-Impaired Drivers: Behavioral Observations, Impairment Assessment, and Toxicological Findings

Abstract:  Toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent frequently abused for its euphoric and intoxicating properties. This report describes a series of six cases involving drivers arrested for driving under the influence who subsequently tested positive for toluene. Case data including driving behavior, physiological signs and symptoms, evidence of impairment, and toxicology findings were reviewed. Blood toluene concentrations in the drivers ranged from 12 to 45 mg/L (median 23 mg/L, mean 25 mg/L, SD 12.1 mg/L). All drivers were determined to be intoxicated, and displayed symptoms including balance problems, confusion and disorientation, loss of coordination, and inability to follow instructions. They also displayed horizontal but not vertical nystagmus, elevated pulse and blood pressure, and lower body temperature. These findings are consistent with prior reports that subjects with blood toluene concentrations above 10 mg/L are invariably under the influence and their driving skills are affected.     

商品销售中立行为的帮助之可罚性探究

商品销售行为的特殊在于,由其具有的业务性、日常性、匿名交易性、反复继续性、可取代性等所体现出来的中立性,使行为本身没有制造、增加不被法所允许的危险,故应否定帮助行为的存在,否定帮助犯的成立。不管对方是否具有购买的形式上的资格,从规范的保护目的考虑,在知悉对方的犯罪意图时,销售违禁品的行为丧失中立的性质,成立帮助犯;销售具有一定危险性的日常使用的物品,也恶用于犯罪的,应由使用者自我答责,应否定帮助犯的成立;销售一般用于日常生活或生产的物品,即使知悉购买者的犯罪意图也不构成犯罪。     

医疗纠纷司法鉴定40例分析

目的分析医疗纠纷产生的主要原因和医疗过失行为的主要表现形式,并探讨医疗纠纷司法鉴定中应注意的主要问题。方法对2006—2008年本所鉴定的40例医疗纠纷案件进行回顾性分析。结果在40例医疗纠纷案件中,来自市级、县级、乡镇医院及个体诊所的分别为11例（27.5%）、24例（60.0%）、2例（5.0%）和3例（7.5%）;来自内科、外科、妇产科、儿科和门/急诊的分别16例（40.0%）、10例（25.0%）、9例（22.5%）、2例（5.0%）和3例（7.5%）;来自县级以上医院的医疗纠纷被认定存在医疗过失行为的比例低于乡镇医院及个体诊所。结论市、县级医院医疗纠纷较乡镇医院及个体诊所多见,但被认定有医疗过失的要少于乡镇医院及个体诊所。     

Forensic Confirmation Bias: Do Jurors Discount Examiners Who Were Exposed to Task-Irrelevant Information?*†

Knowledge of task-irrelevant information influences judgments of forensic science evidence and thereby undermines their probative value (i.e., forensic confirmation bias). The current studies tested whether laypeople discount the opinion of a forensic examiner who had a priori knowledge of biasing information (i.e., a defendant's confession) that could have influenced his opinion. In three experiments, laypeople (N = 765) read and evaluated a trial summary which, for some, included testimony from a forensic examiner who was either unaware or aware of the defendant's confession, and either denied or admitted that it could have impacted his opinion. When the examiner admitted that the confession could have influenced his opinion, laypeople generally discounted his testimony, as evidenced by their verdicts and other ratings. However, when the examiner denied being vulnerable to bias, laypeople tended to believe him—and they weighted his testimony as strongly as that of the confession-unaware examiner. In short, laypeople generally failed to recognize the superiority of forensic science judgments made by context-blind examiners, and they instead trusted examiners who claimed to be impervious to bias. As such, our findings highlight the value of implementing context management procedures in forensic laboratories so as not to mislead fact-finders.     

浅析涉及患者死亡的医疗事故技术鉴定

涉及患者死亡的医疗事故属于一级医疗事故,其技术鉴定能否做到公正的意义重大。对于这类鉴定的主要形式应是医学会组织的技术鉴定,辅助形式是法医司法鉴定。为了确保鉴定结果更加公正．科学,应加大法医参与涉及患者死亡的医疗事故技术鉴定的力度。     

疫学因果关系及其证明

侵权法有关因果关系的一般理论有助于从总体上理解法律上的因果关系的性质与特征,却很难将其直接适用于对特定侵权类型的因果关系判断.疫学因果关系理论对司法审判实践中如何认定特定类型的环境侵权因果关系具有重要的指导意义,却未受到我国理论界的重视.将疫学型环境侵权的因果关系分为一般因与特定因,不但可以从理论上更为清晰地界定此类侵权因果关系的特征,还可以为在司法审判实践中判断因果关系是否存在提供参考框架.证明一般因存在与否的关键证据为流行病学证据,而证明特定因存在与否的证据则包括暴露学、临床医学、病理学等科学证据以及其他的一般证据.在对科学证据进行司法审查的基础上,结合其他证据和具体案情对因果关系作出司法判断,才有可能对疫学型环境侵权案件作出合理判决.     

Mental Illness and Legal Fitness (Competence) to Stand Trial in New York State: Expert Opinion and Criminal Defendants' Psychiatric Symptoms,

Fitness to Stand Trial is a critical concept in the adjudication of justice‐involved persons. A retrospective study was conducted to examine criminal defendants' specific psychiatric symptoms and those symptoms' associations with expert opinions on Competence to Stand Trial. One hundred charts were reviewed: 50 Cases (opined as Not Fit) were compared against 50 Controls (opined as Fit) with respect to ratings on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). A significance level of 0.001 was selected a priori. Statistically significant differences were found in seven of the eighteen BPRS symptom constructs (with the highest differences in Conceptual Disorganization and Unusual Thought Content) and two of the four BPRS higher‐order syndrome factors (Thinking Disorder and Hostile‐Suspiciousness). Consistent with previous reports, psychotic symptoms are found in this study to be inversely associated with Fitness. Validity, reliability, and limitations of this study, as well as directions for future research, are discussed herein.     

设立司法鉴定法律辅助人制度之思考

司法鉴定人是就专门性问题作出判断结论的司法鉴定工作的具体承担者和实施者。鉴定人一般专研于本领域内的专业性问题,对鉴定中尤其是庭审中遇到的法律问题、庭审技艺,知之甚少,因而给鉴定工作和法庭对鉴定意见的判断带来许多不必要的麻烦。是否有必要设立司法鉴定法律辅助人,帮助鉴定人处理鉴定中和庭审中遇到的法律问题,确实是一个值得思考的问题。