**3. Definition of forensic midwifery**

Midwives, field work areas (obstetrics and gynecology clinics, child care and intensive care, child care centers, reproductive health clinics, family health centers, etc.) and legal responsibilities are taken into consideration.

The midwife is one of the health personnel who can see the first forensic evidence, who first see the individual in most judicial cases, who first contacts the family or relatives, touches his or her equipment during the examination, and contacts the laboratory specimens taken individually [5].

According to Hammer, during the forensic investigations where the midwives and nurses are not involved, the team members may not understand the emotional pain and trauma experienced by the victims when performing the legal procedures. Again according to Hammer, some characteristics of those who make medical examinations or who have the authority to impose legal sanctions are likely to be at risk of receiving improper care by the victims, their families and the factions. The approach of midwives to their emotional pain and trauma from the point of view of the mission of their profession is important in communicating with the victim and gathering evidence [6].

In this respect, the main duty of women and child health midwives in forensic events; it should not be forgotten that it will have important roles in history taking, physical examination, identification of evidence, collection of evidence, storage of evidence, provision of evidence protection chain, registration of evidence [7].

In this context forensic midwifery is; "Who monitors and reports traumatic injuries of victims (all age groups of women, pregnant women, postpartum, 0–6 age group) who are applying midwifery education and the knowledge and experience of clinical midwife practitioners using legal procedures for forensic medicine, the application area of forensic sciences working on the forensic cases, collecting evidence, analyzing the facts and evidence, taking part in the examination team of the sexual crime unit, working in a defendant and witness protection program, witnessing as an expert in the court and conducting scientific researches related to forensic midwifery studies" [8].
