To the question of «competence» in forensic medicine and forensic medical examination

In the article a problem concerning the concept of «competence» in application to forensic medicine as an educational discipline and as forensic examination, which is the most common type of legal enquiry, is first considered. Modern concepts of the role of law in the forensic medicine, of the subject of this medical field and of possibilities of forensic examination are given. The author comes to the conclusion that, unfortunately, nowadays the question of forensic medicine still belongs to the category of debatable questions. This fact does not permit to agree with a widely spread opinion stating that forensic medicine has completed its formation as a scientific discipline, besides, this opinion has negative consequences for the activity of law enforcement authorities first of all the activity associated with investigation of criminal cases, consideration of civil matters, cases of administrative violations, since the «competence» of forensic medicine in itself determines the competence of specialists in the field of forensic medicine. And, as it is known, the latter often determines the court judgment.