Victims of assault: a Europe-wide review of procedures for evaluating the seriousness of injuries

Abstract

In France, victims of assault receive a medical certificate describing their injuries. This certificate must fulfil certain criteria because it plays a major role in the subsequent judicial proceedings – notably the establishment of a period of ‘total incapacity for work’, which determines the court in which the case will be heard. Determination of the duration of this period of incapacity is complex. We decided to review medical examination procedures for victims of assault in a number of other European countries (England and Wales, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Spain). Our study revealed that only in France do physicians have to make a quantitative assessment of injuries, which is supposed to reflect the extent of the injuries and the intensity of the violence – despite the difficulties this may pose. We discuss the relevance of this quantitative assessment.