Design and evaluation of a decision-making system for determining the amount of bodily harm based on forensic medicine examinations

Abstract

Abstract Background: The forensic medicine is a specialized organization that plays a decisive role in implementing the law and justice as quickly, effectively, clearly and accurately as possible. The large number and interference of forensic clinical examination variables, the complexity of their differentiation and the existence of multiple decision-making paths can lead to decision-making errors and cause irreparable damages to both individuals and society. Objective: The present study was conducted with the aim of design and evaluation a decision support system for determining the amount of physical damage based on forensic clinical examinations. Method and Material: The decision rules and data elements of the system were determined based on the study of information sources and focus group meetings. Then the system was developed based on intelligent decision making algorithms. This system was finally evaluated with the criteria of accuracy and precision, sensitivity, specificity, usablity and quality of documentation. Results: 264 data elements were identified and used in determining comprehensive decision rules. The rules were organized in the form of decision tree and the system was designed based on them. 500 patients were included. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the system was 100%. The quality of documentation (completeness) increased from 78.2 to 100 percent. The average usability score of the system was 4.35 out of 5, which indicates the very good usability of the system. Conclusion: The designed system was useful and effective in forensic clinical examinations and determining the amount of physical damage (wergild and compensation). Therefore, this system has the ability to be used in the administrative and clinical processes of forensic medicine, and it will have a suitable penetration rate with production and commercialization. Also, this will lead to empowering forensic medicine doctors and reducing decision making errors.