Trauma outcomes in nonfatal road traffic accidents:a Portuguese medico-legal approach

The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of nonfatal road traffic accidents by the victims’age group and sex.We used the Portuguese medico-legal rules for personal injury assessment,in the scope of the Civil Law in that country,which includes a three-dimensional methodology.This was a retrospective study including 667 victims of road traffic accidents aged 3–94 years old.Their final medico-legal reports all used the Portuguese methodology for personal injury assessment.Outcomes were analysed by the victims’age group(children,working-age adults,and older people)and sex.Road traffic accidents were generally serious(ISS mean 9.5),with higher severity in children and older people.The most frequent body sequelae were musculoskeletal(64.8%),which were associated with functional and situational outcomes.Temporary damage resulted in an average length of impairment of daily life of 199.6 days,171.7 days to return to work,and an average degree of quantum doloris(noneconomic damage related to physical and psychological harm)of 3.7/7.The average permanent damage was 7.3/100 points for Permanent Functional Deficit,0.43/3 for Permanent Professional Repercussion,2/7 for Permanent Aesthetic Damage,3.9/7 for Permanent Repercussion on Sexual Activity and 3.2/7 for Permanent Repercussion on Sport and Leisure Activities.Overall,19%of people became permanently dependent(10.6%needed third-party assistance).The medico-legal methodology used,considering victims’real-life situation,allows a comprehensive assessment.There were several significant differences among the three age groups but none between sexes.These differences and the impact of the more severe cases justify further detailed medico-legal studies in these specific situations on children,older people,and severely injured victims.

Intimate partner violence against women. Does violence decrease after the entry of the alleged offender into the criminal justice system?

Intimate partner violence(IPV)is simultaneously assumed as a serious crime and a major public health issue,having recurrences as one of its main characteristics and,consequently,re-entries of some alleged offenders in the criminal justice system(CJS).The main goal of this study is to assess if in cases of female victims of IPV,violence decreases after the first entry of the alleged offender in the CJS.A retrospective study was performed based on the analysis of police reports of alleged cases of IPV during a 4-year period.The final sample(n=1488)was divided into two groups according to the number of entries in the CJS(single or multiple)followed by a comparative approach.Results suggest that violence decreases after the first entry of alleged offenders in the CJS.Re-entries were found in only 15.5%of the cases but they were accountable for 3.3 times more crimes on average.Besides,victims of recidivism presented more injuries and required more medical care.Thus,a small group of alleged offenders seems to be more violent and accountable for most of the IPV crimes registered in the CJS suggesting that regardless of legal sanctions aiming to deter violence,these measures may not be enough for a certain group of offenders.This study sustains the need for a predictive model to quantify the risk of repeated IPV cases within the Portuguese population.