The impact of weight bias in forensic medicine: Challenges and implications for objectivity in medical legal practice

Weight bias, defined as negative attitudes and stereotypes directed toward individuals based on their weight, has profound implications in healthcare and legal settings. In forensic medicine, where objective assessments are critical to the pursuit of justice, weight bias can distort clinical and leg...

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Main Author: Amelia RIZZO
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Edizioni FS Publisher 2024-10-01
Series:GIornale Italiano di Psicologia e Medicina del Lavoro
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Online Access:https://gipmel.it/wp-content/uploads/GIPMEL_2024_October_3_238_242.pdf
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author Amelia RIZZO
author_facet Amelia RIZZO
author_sort Amelia RIZZO
collection DOAJ
description Weight bias, defined as negative attitudes and stereotypes directed toward individuals based on their weight, has profound implications in healthcare and legal settings. In forensic medicine, where objective assessments are critical to the pursuit of justice, weight bias can distort clinical and legal evaluations. This article examines the prevalence of weight bias in forensic medicine, its impact on disability judgments and medical-legal outcomes, and proposes solutions for mitigating bias to ensure fairness and accuracy. Emphasizing the need for education and standardized guidelines, we argue that addressing weight bias is essential for maintaining the integrity of forensic science and bio-psycho-social evaluation.
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spelling doaj-art-ab89cbc7bb9c45d992d87b98dc5e48312025-07-08T09:18:45ZengEdizioni FS PublisherGIornale Italiano di Psicologia e Medicina del Lavoro2785-13382024-10-014323824210.69088/2024/THMP8The impact of weight bias in forensic medicine: Challenges and implications for objectivity in medical legal practiceAmelia RIZZO0Medical-Legal Center of the National Institute of Social Welfare, Messina, Italy. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Department of Cognitive Sciences, Pedagogical Psychological and Cultural Studies, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. E-mail: amrizzo@unime.itWeight bias, defined as negative attitudes and stereotypes directed toward individuals based on their weight, has profound implications in healthcare and legal settings. In forensic medicine, where objective assessments are critical to the pursuit of justice, weight bias can distort clinical and legal evaluations. This article examines the prevalence of weight bias in forensic medicine, its impact on disability judgments and medical-legal outcomes, and proposes solutions for mitigating bias to ensure fairness and accuracy. Emphasizing the need for education and standardized guidelines, we argue that addressing weight bias is essential for maintaining the integrity of forensic science and bio-psycho-social evaluation.https://gipmel.it/wp-content/uploads/GIPMEL_2024_October_3_238_242.pdfweight biashealthcareforensic medicine
spellingShingle Amelia RIZZO
The impact of weight bias in forensic medicine: Challenges and implications for objectivity in medical legal practice
GIornale Italiano di Psicologia e Medicina del Lavoro
weight bias
healthcare
forensic medicine
title The impact of weight bias in forensic medicine: Challenges and implications for objectivity in medical legal practice
title_full The impact of weight bias in forensic medicine: Challenges and implications for objectivity in medical legal practice
title_fullStr The impact of weight bias in forensic medicine: Challenges and implications for objectivity in medical legal practice
title_full_unstemmed The impact of weight bias in forensic medicine: Challenges and implications for objectivity in medical legal practice
title_short The impact of weight bias in forensic medicine: Challenges and implications for objectivity in medical legal practice
title_sort impact of weight bias in forensic medicine challenges and implications for objectivity in medical legal practice
topic weight bias
healthcare
forensic medicine
url https://gipmel.it/wp-content/uploads/GIPMEL_2024_October_3_238_242.pdf
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