People affected by violence are not always in a position to immediately report the crime they have experienced. In these cases, a confidential forensic examination by a medical professional can ensure that evidence is not lost. This will be paid for by health insurance companies in future. A system will be used that computer scientists at Fachhochschule Dortmund have been working on for many years.
Back in 2014, a team led by Prof. Dr. Peter Haas at the Faculty of Computer Science, together with the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Düsseldorf University Hospital, presented the "GOBSIS" software, the Violent Victim Evidence Information System. The further development of the intelligent tool "iGOBSIS" now guides medical professionals step by step through the documentation of cases and injuries as well as the legally compliant preservation of evidence. A 24-hour forensic emergency service is also integrated. The connected database provides local support services that doctors can pass on to their patients. All information is stored anonymously and can be retrieved in the event of a later report.
This system is now also the basis for an agreement on the assumption of costs for confidential forensic evidence by the statutory health insurance fund. The Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Refugees and Integration in North Rhine-Westphalia has negotiated this together with the NRW Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs over the past three years. The agreement is due to come into force in February 2025. The service will then be gradually rolled out in North Rhine-Westphalian clinics. The use of "iGOBSIS" will be funded by the Ministry with 800,000 euros in 2025.
Karl-Josef Laumann: "Helping in a difficult situation"
NRW Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann: "The victims of violent crimes have experienced terrible things and are often traumatized. With this agreement, we want to help them in this extremely difficult situation and ensure that they can decide to pursue criminal proceedings even a long time after the crime. To this end, it is absolutely essential that they receive low-threshold help in preserving evidence. This is an important step for the presentation of evidence in any subsequent criminal proceedings."
"iGOBSIS" has already been tested in numerous clinics in North Rhine-Westphalia. The software is also already being used in many medical practices. A list of participating clinics and practices can be found on the website www.gobsis.de/projekt/teilnehmende/(Opens in a new tab)
Before his retirement, Prof. Dr. Peter Haas and his team also developed the "iGOBSIS-pro" add-on, a software solution for the psycho-social aftercare of victims of violence, together with the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Düsseldorf University Hospital. It consists of two components: the digital violence victim file for those providing care and therapy and the app for those affected. This enables individually tailored violence management and documentation. For example, questionnaires, appointments and contacts for help can be sent from the file to the person affected via the app. The person in turn uses the diary function to send back up-to-date information about their physical and mental health. This facilitates close diagnostics and therapy monitoring.
