"Who is first on the scene?"

Forensic specialists are well standardised throughout the world and their opinions are respected by the courts. Doctors involved in the immediate clinical forensic assessment of persons in police custody are not, however, so well standardised. Some countries employ trained police surgeons or police medical officers, other countries rely on hospital interns, others simply accept the first doctor available. Can courts rely on their testimony? Can specialists depend on their skills? A call is made for such generalists to meet on an international basis to establish standards.