Impact of (forensic) expert opinions according to the Istanbul Protocol in Germany —results and insights of the in:Fo-project

AbstractAs part of a third-party funded project, expert opinions according to the Istanbul Protocol (IP) standards were compiled in Germany on a larger scale for the first time. The assessment process was initiated for 130 project participants. Statistical analysis on numerous variables was performed to test the impact of the expert opinions, foremost of the forensic medical expert opinions, on the individuals ’ asylum proceedings. The variables were drawn from forensic medical expert opinions and reports of findings, questionnaires for the study participants’ counsellors in the project and a query on the asylum status of the study participants. Regression analysis and bivariate analysis on two depend ent variables—subjective impact on the asylum procedure from the counsellors’ point of view and objective change in the asylum status—were performed to test for an influence on asylum procedures. No statistically significant results were obtained for the objective change of the study participa nts’ asylum status. For the subjective dependent variable, a positive prediction was possible when simultaneously controlling for the independent variablesintroduction of a forensic medical expert opinion andhighest IP grade; a negative prediction was possible when simultaneously controlling for the independent variablesintroduction of a forensic medical expert opinion anduse of IP grading. Apart from the statistical analysis, a positive effect of the assessment on the psychoso...
Source: International Journal of Legal Medicine - Category: Medical Law Source Type: research