On the Cusp of Reform Making the Expert Scientific

• Published in: Medicine, Law, and the State in Imperial Russi p. 59
• Main Author: Becker, Elisa M
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Hungary Central European University Press 10.11.2011
• Edition: NED - New edition, 1
• Subjects: Biological sciences; Biology; Blood; Body composition; Body fluids; Children; Criminal investigation; Economic disciplines; Economics; Employment; Forensic medicine; Forensic sciences; Government; Government services; Health care industry; Health sciences; History; Human populations; Imperial Russia; Judicial system; Labor economics; Law; Law enforcement; Law enforcement procedures; Law reform; Legal proceedings; Legislation; Medical conditions; Medical personnel; Medical practice; Occupations; Persons; Physical trauma; Physicians; Physiology; Political science; Population studies; Regional histories; Russian history; Social sciences; State legislation; Statutory law
• ISBN: 9639776815; 9789639776814

In the period of the great reforms, a radical change took place in the medical occupation by responding to the question of evidence. The abrogation of inquisitorial procedure left a vacuum regarding the legal significance of medical conclusions. Physicians responded to this change by redefining their forensic role in line with the methodological ideals and epistemological impregnability of science. This shift had five main implications. First, it suggested a new justification and means for immunity from legal challenge, to replace the previous “procedural immunity” that the inquisitorial system had afforded. Second, with regard to securing legal weight for physicians’ conclusions