• Iwona Ptaszyńska-Sarosiek, Anna Niemcunowicz-Janica, Marcin Filimoniuk, Magdalena Okłota, Zofia Wardaszka, Michał Szeremeta, and Adam Sackiewicz.
• Zakładu Medycyny Sadowej Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Białymstoku.
• Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol. 2010 Apr 1; 60 (2-3): 102-8.

AbstractIn the last years in Poland, the number of medicolegal opinions issued concerning the health status of defendants or convicts with regard to their ability to participate in legal proceedings (taking part in trial) and serve a sentence of imprisonment or restriction of freedom (doing free social labor) has been increasing. In the years 2005-2009, in our department, 115 opinions about defendants, convicts, one witness and one sufferer were issued. In this number, 37 opinions were associated with estimation of ability to serve a sentence of imprisonment, 22--estimation of ability to serve a penalty of restricted liberty or possibility of alternative serving a sentence of imprisonment, 56--estimation of ability to take part in legal proceedings. In 8 cases the experts estimated if the health status allowed a defendant to be detained awaiting trial and be detained in custody pending inquiry. The age, sex, place of residence, diseases the opinioned persons suffered from and the judicial organ that commissioned the opinion were taken into consideration in the analysis. The opinions were issued on the basis of court files and medical documentation only--18 opinions, or on the basis of court files, documentation and medical examination--97 opinions. In 52 cases, only specialists of forensic medicine issued the opinions, but in 63 instances, participation of experts in other medical specialties was necessary. Most often, the opinions of cardiologists were sought.

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