Perspectives of forensic medicine experts on disaster victim identification (DVI)

PERSPECTIVES OF FORENSIC MEDICINE EXPERTS ON DISASTER VICTIM IDENTIFICATION (DVI) Natural and unnatural disasters are frequently encountered in our country. Forensic medicine plays a crucial role in disasters by clarifying forensic medical issues, assessing injury severity, and disaster victim identification (DVI). Despite Türkiye's INTERPOL membership, the absence of an official DVI structure, compounded by recent mass disasters, highlights the urgency of aligning protocols with international standards and establishing a DVI framework. This thesis examines demographic data of forensic medicine specialists and assistants, alongside insights from forensic medicine experts and assistants involved in identification endeavors after February 6 earthquakes, to assess field challenges and propose an organizational model for disaster victim identification. Among 290 participants from Forensic Medicine Institute, the Ministry of Health, and various Forensic Medicine Departments at universities, 83 were directly contributed to the investigation in the affected region. Findings underscore organizational deficiencies as a primary challenge, advocating for restructuring within the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The study revealed that participants lacked knowledge of AFAD structure, Türkiye's Disaster Response Plan (TAMP), and relevant legal regulations. The consensus among the participants suggests the identification process situating under the Institute of Forensic Medicine. The study found that participants lacked awareness of Interpol DVI forms. While the INTERPOL DVI form is widely used globally, participants recommended tailored adaptations of the shortened forms to better suit local needs. Furthermore, the absence of a legal DNA database in Türkiye has been highlighted as a deficiency, with recommendations made for its establishment akin to fingerprint databases. Lastly, it has been proposed that the E-Pulse National Personal Health Record System, operational within the Ministry of Health since 2014, be made accessible to DVI experts during disasters. Forensic medicine experts involved in the February 6 earthquakes reported insufficiencies in infrastructure and equipment in mass disaster management. Considering the unpredictable nature of disasters, our earthquake experience and the results obtained from our research, the necessity of establishing DVI protocols and multidisciplinary teams for a rapid and effective intervention in the DVI is also emphasized in the results of our study. Keywords: disaster, identification, DVI, disaster management, DNA analysis