title: Forensic autopsy practice in the Middle East: comparisons with the west.
abstract: Autopsies are performed in the majority of Arab, Muslim countries. Several of these countries face social challenges and others do not have well established academic programs to teach the science. In this article we intend to review the history and practice of the forensic part of autopsies in a few Arab, Muslim countries (Egypt, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Kuwait) and compare it with the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK), 2 countries where the practice of forensic science and Forensic pathology is well established. This was achieved by pub med literature search and the distribution of a questionnaire to colleagues in Arab countries. We recommend that Arab countries explore the field of virtual autopsy to overcome some of the social challenges related to dissection of the cadaver. Kuwait can benefit from the introduction of Forensic training given the high workload in the country.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Po Box 72, Shamiyah, Kuwait City, 71661, Kuwait. Electronic address: salah.w@hsc.edu.kw.
authors.forename: Salah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Waheeb
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Interior, General Department of Criminal Evidence, Farwaniyah, Farwaniyah, Kuwait. Electronic address: pathgirl.n@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Kandary
authors.affiliation: King Saud University, College of Medicine Forensic Unit, Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: khaldoonaljerian@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Khaldoon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aljerian
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000193:education*; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008877:Middle East
keywords: Autopsy; Forensic pathology; Forensic science