[The history of medicolegal opinions in the Kingdom of Prussia in the 18th century].

Abstract

The article presents the history and the course of medicolegal opinions in the Kingdom of Prussia in the 18th century. The activities of the first institutions dealing with matters in the field of public medicine in the country, including medico-forensics, are described. The article presents the activities of universities and medical faculties, pioneering research by eminent professors of medicine, as well as the most important legal regulations concerning medicolegal judgments. The issue of the participation of expert doctors in court proceedings in order to resolve issues related to the assessment of health and life was discussed. Medicolegal opinions in Prussia developed very dynamically in the 18th century (especially compared to other European countries), and its tradition dates back to the times of Lex Carolina from 1532 and Lex Bambergiana from 1508.