In recent weeks, multiple criticisms have been directed at the Legal Medical Service (SML), reopening a necessary conversation about the challenges facing this key institution within the justice system.
As its national director has pointed out, the SML plays an essential role in criminal investigations and in the search for truth for victims and their families, especially in fatal cases. It is undeniable that in recent years there have been important advances in infrastructure and in the modernization of processes. However, significant challenges remain in strengthening its technical and human capacities.
At the opening of the 9th Ibero-American Congress of Forensic Sciences, organized by the Dr. Carlos Ybar Legal Medical Institute, Dr. Marta Cohen, a renowned pediatric pathologist from the United Kingdom, highlighted the urgency of modernizing equipment in areas such as Genetics, Toxicology, Histopathology, and Radiology. These improvements are essential for clarifying complex deaths, especially those involving children, where every technical detail can make a difference.
However, it is difficult to move forward in this direction without the necessary incentives and resources. It is essential that investment in infrastructure be accompanied by the incorporation of cutting-edge technology, the strengthening of career development for forensic professionals, and improvements in work protocols.
Forensic science is an indispensable tool for clarifying deaths of uncertain cause or those suspected to involve a crime. Strengthening the SML not only improves the quality of investigations, but also brings justice closer to families and reinforces public trust in the institutions responsible for such a sensitive task.
María José Bowen Silva
Deputy Director of Legal Affairs and Public Policy Advocacy
Fundación Amparo y Justicia
