Semmelweis University hosted the 24th International Meeting on Forensic Medicine Alpe-Adria-Pannonia (AAP). The event was attended by participants from 18 different countries.

RS32960_KA-20150701-IMG_5884-alpok-adria-kongresszus-scrThe conference was opened by the Chairman of AAP, Dr. Éva Keller who is also the Director of the Department of Forensic Medicine. In her speech she said that the conference covered all the major areas of forensic medicine and paid special attention to the field designer drugs.

The event was attended by several internationally acclaimed researchers, amongst others Dr. Yasmin Hurd from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, who spoke about the molecular basis of substance abuse. Dr. Gabor G. Kovacs from the Institute of Neurology at the Medical University of Vienna talked about the neuropathological changes in the brain caused by the use of drugs. Dr. John Corkery from Department of Pharmacy at the University of Hertfordshire gave a presentation on the identification and monitoring of the latest psychoactive substances and their users, which is part of a programme funded by the European Union.RS32975_KA-20150701-IMG_5820-alpok-adria-kongresszus-scr

One of the key topics of the conference was the education and training of healthcare professionals. Christine Goodair from the University of London spoke about how drug users and dependencies should be treated and how the education of medical students should incorporate such areas.RS32974_KA-20150701-IMG_5826-alpok-adria-kongresszus-scr

The event also provided insight into the latest findings in the field of forensic medicine, the most efficient ways of solving forensic cases and medical responsibility. Professor Stefan Pollack from Freiburg gave a presentation on the forensic examination of injuries and also acclaimed the work of Hungarian forensic experts.

The main patrons of the congress were Dr. Ágoston Szél, Rector, Dr. Sándor Pintér, Minister of Interior, Dr. László Trócsányi, Minister of Justice and Dr. Gábor Zombor Minister of Human Capacities. The participants were greeted by Dr. Tibor Takács, Vice-Commander in Chief of the Police on behalf of the Minister of Interior and by Dr. Gabriella Németh on behalf of the Ministry of Justice. 

Pálma Dobozi
Photo: Attila Kovács, Semmelweis University
Translated by: Ágnes Raubinek