Eddy De Valck
Multidisciplinary intervention in DVI operations: the role of the forensic odontologist
- Master of dental Sciences Catholic University Leuven 1977, School for Criminology Ministry of Justice Belgium 1979 and Legal Expert at Law School State University Ghent 2000.
- Participated in about 20 major disasters ( train- plane – boat disasters, Tsunami 2004 Phuket, 2014 MH 17, 2016 Brussels Terrorist attacks, 2021 Floodings Belgium) since 1987 as Chief forensic odontologist DVI team Federal Police Belgium.
- Past President IOFOS (International Association Forensic Odonto Stomatology) 1999-2002
- Deputy Chair Scientific, Interpol DVI Standing Committee 2001 -2006.
Guest Professor in Under – and Postgraduate training courses on Forensic odontology and mass disaster management. Trainer in DVI management programs.Lecturer/ Examinator at the Academy of Forensic Medical Sciences, London, UK. Board Member of ETAF-DVI. - Author and co-author of textbooks on forensic odontology and legal medicine Reviewer on forensics odontology and DVI for numerous international scientific journals
Nationality: Belgium
Scientific areas: Forensic dentistry
10 of november, from 11h00 until 13h00
Room 2
Conference summary
Disaster Victim Identification is a major part of mass disasters as it will allow to return victims to their relatives so that these can start their mourning process and come close with their loss. In that respect it has to be practiced in a scientific way not leaving any room for errors.
Forensic odontology, as one of the primary identifying methods, has an important input in DVI and the forensic odontologist has an important role in each of the different phases of the identification process. This requires the application of strict protocols and standards in the AM and PM phase as determined by DVI Interpol Standing Committee in order to avoid mistakes. Forensic odontologists involved in DVI should be aware of these and have been trained in applying these under all circumstances.
A very important role in DVI is also in the hands of the treating dentist of the victims. Without excellent dental records it will not be possible to obtain quality AM records which are indispensable to be used in the reconciliation and identification process. In fact the AM record is the achilleas tendon of the identification process.
In this presentation we will focus on the role of the general dentist and the forensic odontologist in the identification process.