Membership by Equivalent Qualification

Forensic psychiatrists who hold specialist registration with the GMC as a Forensic Psychiatrist, who are judged by the Fellowship Committee to hold a relevant postgraduate qualification and who have made a notable contribution to Forensic and Legal Medicine through practice, research or training.

A relevant postgraduate qualification in forensic psychiatry could include:

• MRCPsych or overseas equivalent

Forensic odontologists who are judged by the Membership and Fellowship Committee to hold a relevant postgraduate qualification and who have made a notable contribution to Forensic and Legal Medicine through practice, research or training.

Medically qualified coroners who are judged by the Fellowship Committee to hold a relevant postgraduate qualification and who have made a notable contribution to Forensic and Legal Medicine through practice, research or training. A relevant postgraduate qualification in medical law could include:

• Diploma in Medical Jurisprudence (DMJ) (Clin)
• Diploma in Forensic Medicine (DFM)
• Diploma in Forensic Medical Sciences (DFMS)
• Diploma in Forensic Medicine and Bioethics (DFMB)
• Master of Medical Law (LLM)
• Mastership in Medical Jurisprudence (MMJ)
• Bachelor of Law (LLB)
•  Barrister
•  Solicitor
• Writer to the Signet (Scotland)
• Member of the Faculty of Advocates (Scotland)

The following can be considered:

Medically and Legally qualified practitioners who

• hold a substantive coronial post in England, Wales, Northern Ireland
• or a substantive post of Procurator Fiscal in Scotland
• or a Medically qualified practitioner who hold a substantive coronial post in the Republic of Ireland

Forensic pathologists who hold specialist registration with the GMC as a Forensic Pathologist, who are judged by the Fellowship Committee to hold a relevant postgraduate qualification and who have made a notable contribution to Forensic and Legal Medicine through practice, research or training.

A relevant postgraduate qualification in forensic pathology could include:

• Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (Forensic Medicine) OR
• Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (Histopathology) together with the additional forensic pathology qualification of EITHER the Diploma in Medical Jurisprudence (Path) OR the Diploma in Forensic Pathology (DFP)

Since the FRCPath (Forensic Medicine) is accepted as the “bench mark” UK qualification for MFFLM equivalence, it is against the curriculum of that examination that any non-UK based qualification will be compared.

Please note : an Equivalent Qualification is assessed on the training received for the qualification and not on the post graduate experience gained thereafter.

1. All training must have been at an establishment approved for the relevant training

2. All times and case numbers are minima, but are interdependent, and longer training periods will require increased case experience on an annualised basis

3. Histopathology component (to be completed before commencing Forensic component)

a. 24 months full time equivalent attachment (under direct Consultant supervision)
i. Personally examined 1250 surgical specimens (wide range of types)ii. Personally examined 350 cervical cytology specimens
iii. Personally examined 350 non-cervical cytology specimens
iv. Personally performed 40 adult autopsies
v. Personally performed 2 paediatric/neonatal autopsies

b. During the two years of histopathology component spent time in specialist departments / centres
i. 2 weeks in paediatric pathology centre
ii. 2 weeks in neuropathology centre

4. Forensic Pathology component (must follow completion of Histopathology component)
a. 36 months full time equivalent attachment (under direct Consultant supervision)
i. Personally to conduct 250 autopsies – minimum of 80 per year with a wide range of type and complexity
ii. Attend and observe 10 scenes of suspicious deaths
iii. Attend and observe autopsy examinations of suspicious deaths
iv. Attend and give evidence in Courts

5. Postgraduate Experience Career Development and Training
a. to have attended national and international conferences and training days
b. to have been involved in CPD since graduating

In addition to a relevant post graduate qualification, applicants must:

– be working in forensic pathology
– meet the 5 training criteria (as listed above)
– provide a reference from their head of specialist department of forensic pathology

Legally Qualified Coroners and Procurators Fiscal and Procurators Fiscal Depute in Scotland who hold a qualifying law degree and at least five years experience as a lawyer registered with an appropriate body.