Collecting and Preserving Evidence in a Healthcare Setting

Course overview

Whenever a crime occurs, evidence can be transferred among the perpetrator, victim, and the crime scene. Law enforcement personnel collect and preserve crime scene evidence. Healthcare professionals can simultaneously assist with a crime investigation and provide good healthcare to patients by collecting and preserving evidence from the patients body. It is imperative to understand that the collection and preservation of evidence from a patient should never compromise the patients safety, autonomy, or legal rights. This course provides an overview of interviewing, collecting, and preserving forensic evidence, toxicology, and documentation. The goal of this course is to provide nursing professionals in acute care settings with an overview of how to identify, collect, and preserve evidence in a healthcare setting.