Chest trauma is the leading cause of death in people under 40. It is estimated to cause around 140,000 deaths each year. The key aims are to reduce mortality and the impact of associated complications to expedite recovery and to restore patient’s conditions. The recognition of lesions through appropriate imaging and early treatment already in the emergency department are fundamental. The majority can be managed in a non-surgical way, but especially after traumatic cardiac arrest, a surgical approach is required. One of the most important surgical procedures is the Emergency Department Thoracotomy (EDT). The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive synthesis about the management of thoracic trauma, the surgical procedures, accepted indications, and technical details adopted during the most important surgical procedures for different thoracic trauma injuries. Literature from 1990 to 2023 was retrieved from multiple databases and reviewed. It is also important to emphasize the medico-legal implications of this type of trauma, both from the point of view of collaboration with the judicial authority and in the prevention of any litigation.

The use of AI is transforming the production and legal validity of scientific evidence in the forensic context, raising critical questions regarding admissibility in court. While traditional forms of scientific evidence rely on methodologies already validated and accepted by the scientific community, AI systems introduce unprecedented challenges in terms of explainability. We conducted a search on PubMed using the keywords "artificial intelligence scientific proof" over the past 10 years. Applying the relevant filters, we obtained 243 results. The aim of this research is to analyze the reliability of AI in judicial proceedings and the potential admissibility of scientific evidence, by comparing major legal systems. This study examines the impact of AI with particular focus on compliance standards. For completeness, we also carried out additional hand-searching. The investigation reveals that the use of AI in the forensic field offers undeniable advantages. However, there are still several issues to address, primarily associated with the "black box" nature of AI. In this international context, there are also regulatory gaps between the EU system and the US approach, which is already utilizing such systems with flexible but controversial criteria. The integration of AI into legal processes requires a balance between innovation and procedural safeguards. The U.S. Daubert Standard provides a framework for assessing the scientific reliability of algorithmic evidence but needs adaptation to address the challenges posed by AI. The future challenge lies in reconciling technological advancement with the principles of procedural fairness, ensuring that AI does not become an "incontestable" form of evidence due to its complex nature.

Background and aim: Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining increasing relevance in orthopaedic surgery, particularly in prosthetic surgery, due to its ability to support preoperative planning through advanced imaging analysis, implant size prediction, and outcome forecasting. However, recent literature shows considerable variability in employed models, evaluated outcomes, and clinical applicability. The objective of this scoping review is to map AI applications in preoperative planning for orthopaedic arthroplasties and to assess their impact on radiographic and clinical outcomes, also discussing key ethical and medicolegal implications within both Italian and international contexts. Materials and methods: A literature review was conducted following scoping review methodology. The bibliographic search (10 September 2025) was performed in PubMed and Scopus using the query “preoperative planning WITH artificial intelligence AND prosthesis orthopaedic surgery AND outcomes”, restricted to the years 2020–2025, English-language studies, and research focused specifically on real-world AI techniques applied to preoperative planning in prosthetic surgery, reporting radiographic and/or clinical outcomes related to planning. Exclusion criteria included intra/postoperative studies, non-orthopaedic applications, robotic surgery, studies lacking clinical outcomes, case reports, and articles without full-text availability. After PRISMA screening and selection, 42 primary studies were included. Results: Of the 42 studies included, 20 focused on the hip, 19 on the knee, and 3 on the shoulder. Available evidence indicates that AI may improve templating accuracy and prosthetic component positioning, with more robust results in hip and knee arthroplasty, while applications in shoulder arthroplasty remain emerging. Nonetheless, important methodological limitations persist, including algorithm heterogeneity. Discussion: Overall, the findings suggest a promising role for AI in preoperative planning; however, the heterogeneity and variable quality of the evidence call for caution in interpretation and highlight the need for more rigorous prospective research. These considerations also carry relevant medicolegal implications, as the reliability and standardisation of AI-based tools represent essential prerequisites for their safe and conscious integration within diverse regulatory frameworks. Conclusions: AI appears to be a promising tool in the preoperative planning of orthopaedic arthroplasties, although further clinical validation and methodological standardisation are required. The evidence gathered also provides a useful foundation for addressing the associated medicolegal and regulatory implications, particularly in light of evolving Italian and European regulations and their differences from U.S. models.

Gender incongruence is a current issue with implications in the legislative, social, and healthcare fields. In this context, misinformation is, at present, the main enemy of transgender rights equity. Over time, the scientific community has worked to reclassify this condition, removing it from psychiatric diagnoses. The method of our work involved investigating and comparing the different social and legislative measures adopted by various countries to ensure the rights and equality of individuals with gender incongruence. The result showed that there are various international approaches allowing adult and minor patients to access medical and administrative procedures for gender transition. In conclusion, there appears to be a need for international bioethical and legislative guidance in order to reduce and eventually eliminate the social inequalities faced by individuals with gender incongruence.

Introduction: Gender-based violence and femicide represent the most extreme manifestation of a deep-rooted cultural distortion embedded within patriarchal social structures. In this study, adopting a comparative and multidisciplinary approach, we analyzed the evolution of international legislation and the major historical milestones in the protection of women’s rights and the prevention of gender-based violence at both the global and Italian levels. Specific protocols such as the “Pink code” were examined, with particular attention to medico-legal implications and the clinical management of victims, highlighting how violence against women continues to be fuelled by stereotypes, discrimination, and unequal power relations. Materials and Methods: Gender-based violence and femicide were examined from both national and international perspectives. A total of 73 scientific articles in English and 28 legal sources were selected from an initial pool of 918 publications, through a narrative review with a structured search strategy of international and Italian legislation and scientific literature. Electronic databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) were searched for the period 2000–2025. Only original observational studies, medico-legal analyses, epidemiological reports, and forensic case series were included. Cases primarily related to pregnancy, migration, infanticide, suicide, or substance abuse were excluded to reduce heterogeneity and focus on violence rooted in gender-based power asymmetries. Results: The legislative analysis shows a progressive strengthening of protection mechanisms, particularly between 2012 and 2023, following the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, the increase in intimate partner violence, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In Italy, the repeal of discriminatory norms and the introduction of specific legislative measures have led to increased attention toward prevention, protection, and prosecution of gender-based violence. Protocols such as the ‘Pink Code’, an Italian hospital-based multidisciplinary pathway activated mainly in emergency departments for the early identification, clinical care, medico-legal documentation, and judicial protection of victims of gender-based violence, have improved multidisciplinary management of victims within healthcare and judicial settings, although significant challenges remain regarding the full enforcement of legislation and the effective protection of women. The analysis focuses on female victims, in accordance with the Italian legal definition of gender-based violence, while other forms of gender-related violence were considered beyond the scope of this review. Conclusions: Despite substantial legal advances, combating gender-based violence clearly requires an integrated approach that combines prevention, assistance, and prosecution. Strengthening collaboration among institutions, healthcare services, and the judicial system—consistent with international recommendations—is essential to ensure an effective and rights-based response to victims. Overcoming the cultural and social barriers that perpetuate violence remains a fundamental priority, alongside promoting genuine gender equality.

Background: Adoption in Italy has evolved significantly over the years, becoming a critical legal, social, and ethical issue. Recent data indicates a decline in the number of adoptions, reflecting a broader European trend. Historically, adoption was primarily pursued by couples unable to have biological children due to infertility. Today, however, the adoption process in Italy has expanded to include single individuals, following recent legislative reforms that aim to accommodate diverse family structures. Methods: We have analyzed the relevant literature through a PubMed search and studied the current regulations considering recent Italian developments. This paper examines the current state of adoption in Italy, focusing on the increasing need for interdisciplinary collaboration between law, forensic medicine, ethics, and psychology. Results: The evolving adoption landscape requires a comprehensive approach that addresses legal issues, medical conditions, ethical considerations, and psychological support for both adoptive parents and children. The integration of these fields is essential for ensuring the well-being of the adopted child and the success of the adoption process. Conclusions: By exploring the dynamics of adoption, this article highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary framework in meeting the needs of children awaiting adoption and fostering the development of new family structures in Italy. In particular, forensic medicine plays a central role in evaluating parental suitability, detecting potential risk factors, and supporting judicial decisions through technical expertise and medico-legal assessments.