International Journal of Legal Medicine
Volume 129, Issue 3, 2015, Pages 595-602

Standardized medical age assessment of refugees with questionable minority claim—a summary of 591 case studies (Article)

Rudolf E.* , Kramer J. , Gebauer A. , Bednar A. , Recsey Z. , Zehetmayr J. , Bukal J. , Winkler I.
  • a Wiesenstr. 20, Attnang-Puchheim, 4800, Austria
  • b Institute for CT and MRT Diagnostics, Rainerstr 6-8, Linz, 4020, Austria
  • c Institute for Radiological Imaging, Erzherzog Wilhelm Ring 1-3, Baden bei Wien, 2500, Austria
  • d Dental Outpatient Clinic, Derfflingerstr. 2a, Linz, 4020, Austria
  • e Dental Outpatient Clinic, Derfflingerstr. 2a, Linz, 4020, Austria
  • f Dental Outpatient Clinic, Derfflingerstr. 2a, Linz, 4020, Austria
  • g Dental Outpatient Clinic, Derfflingerstr. 2a, Linz, 4020, Austria
  • h Raxbergen 27, Jennersdorf, 8380, Austria

Abstract

In order to establish identity of asylum seekers, part of which is age clarification, administrative authorities are obliged to investigate the credibility of allegations based on the usual means of evidence to determine the applicable legal background. In case of serious doubts concerning age minority declaration, medical expert opinion builds the key proof bound by a complex framework consisting of EU regulations, domestic legal backgrounds and the scientific ‘state of the art,’ the latter being largely influenced by the pursuit of the German ‘Study Group on Forensic Age Diagnostics.’ Our application example demonstrates the exceptional value of its guidelines serving evidence-based understanding of the age issue in borderline adults within the asylum context. The results deriving from a substantial number of cases disclose an unequivocal inclination of age-disputed male refugees towards concluding somatic development despite a tendency of low lying age reports. © 2014, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Author Keywords

Forensic expert proof Minimum age concept AGFAD recommendations Medical age assessment Unaccompanied minor asylum seekers

Index Keywords

refugee human Refugees Evidence-Based Practice Minors Austria procedures expert witness Age Determination by Skeleton Deception Expert Testimony evidence based practice Young Adult Humans Adolescent male Tomography, X-Ray Computed female Age Determination by Teeth age determination legislation and jurisprudence minor (person) adult computer assisted tomography Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84939960358&doi=10.1007%2fs00414-014-1122-x&partnerID=40&md5=86c1b58e71f107ac75927ec7db6f4396
DOI: 10.1007/s00414-014-1122-x
ISSN: 09379827
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English