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Ten years of forensic genetics in Ecuador: Medical and legal affairs

Abstract:

We present a brief analysis of the advances and perspectives of Forensic Genetics (FG) in a developing country such as ours over the last 10 years, during which time this area of Legal Medicine has been partially consolidated. To speak of FG in our country is to speak of a change in the behaviour of the legal system. Both the criminal prosecution system and the National Legal Medicine System are very recent in Ecuador. The first DNA test was carried out in 1997 for a case of migration in which a paternity test was requested. So far around 5000 paternity tests have been carried out, around 60% in the judicial sphere and 40% privately. Over 200 forensic studies have been carried out in criminal cases since the introduction of the new Criminal Procedure Code a figure which could be insufficient but which, due to the existing legal system, is a significant number. There are currently three unofficial laboratories which carry out forensic studies and the test is now consolidated in court cases. At the same time there has been an evolution in legal regulations with the passing of the recent Criminal Procedure Code, the Childhood and Adolescence Code and the National Legal Medicine System Regulation. © 2008.