Role of forensic and medical sciences in the investigation prevention torture and other ill-treatment 2014, para. 61
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While much progress has undoubtedly been made in the past few years, in scientific advances, in medical standards and in legal norm-setting, the impact of forensic medical science is undermined by a lack of institutional independence, rigorous implementation and sufficient training. In many cases, health professionals in detention facilities have an almost exclusively therapeutic role or other staff have only basic training as paramedics; their focus is on curing sick detainees and examining new arrivals for contagious diseases or obvious wounds. Since traumata caused by torture are not necessarily visible, their examinations likely miss a considerable number of torture cases. The Special Rapporteur observes that there is a lack of proper in-take and exit examinations, which would detect suspected cases of torture.
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Non-negotiated soft law
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Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment