Personal view: Military forensic medicine – forensic medicine in a military setting

This paper advocates for the establishment of a dedicated scientific forum for Military Forensic Medicine (MFM). Within Europe, the number of forensic medicine professionals possessing direct experience in military contexts remains limited. These (frequently hostile) environments often involve operational, legal, and logistical complexities that differ significantly from those encountered in civilian forensic practice. As a specialized and emerging field, MFM would benefit from a supranational platform aimed at advancing scientific discourse, fostering collaboration, and disseminating expertise across national boundaries. The proposed forum could facilitate structured networking between military and civilian forensic specialists, thereby enhancing preparedness and interoperability. Such an initiative could be supported under the auspices of established international bodies, such as the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM) or NATO’s Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services (COMEDS).