Describe
Use precise anatomical location and measured observations.
MEDIVEERSETHE PRACTICAL HUBOBSERVE / REASON / EXPLAIN
Injury description station
Practise a structured, objective and appropriately authorised medicolegal station.
Your practical station
A written case describes a skin wound. Present a neutral examination record without naming the weapon or assigning a legal conclusion.
Recognise and interpret
Reliable documentation preserves observations, identity, context and traceability without unsupported conclusions.
- Describe site, size and visible characteristics
- Record relevant negatives and limitations
- Preserve context and patient dignity
Differentiate
Avoid equating a possible mechanism with a proven cause.
Escalate
Seek trained review for specialist opinion and urgent clinical needs.
At the viva table
Try answering aloud, then open the suggested answer. Examiner questions vary.
01 / Can appearance alone prove a weapon?
Usually not; interpretation needs context and specialist assessment.
02 / Why measure rather than estimate?
A measured description is more reproducible.
03 / Does treatment wait for a legal opinion?
Urgent clinical care takes priority.
04 / Why document limitations?
They define what the examination can and cannot support.