The president's word

The Royal Belgian Society of Forensic Medicine, founded in 1889, unites and represents the small world of not only physicians, but also dentists, toxicologists and geneticists, who are active as forensic scientists and legal experts in Belgium.

From the beginning, the main aim of the Society has been the development of forensic (bio)medical sciences and the promotion of scientific initiatives and contacts among its members. Furthermore, the Society aspires to be the professional representation of forensic (bio)medical experts within the national and international (forensic) community.

Since the beginning, many distinguished members have been and are involved in significant developments, both scientific and in daily practice, concerning forensic medicine, odontology, toxicology, and genetics. Our predecessors succeeded in improving the level of education of forensic medical experts by establishing a new medical specialty in 2002, alongside all other existing specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, etc. An official 5-year specific training programme, recognised by the government and the universities, was established in recognised academic forensic medical departments. During their residency, these physicians are trained in forensic pathology and clinical forensic medicine, including the evaluation of bodily harm. After fulfilling the well-defined requirements, these trained forensic physicians will be entitled specialists in forensic medicine by the Ministry of Health. So far, a new generation of residents in training and qualified young colleagues, henceforth referred to as ‘specialists in forensic medicine’, has become members of the Society and are even represented on the new Board. This important step towards the professionalisation of our specialty, however, has not yet translated into an acceptable professional environment due to, for example, the lack of a proper payment method or formal recognition by the Ministry of Justice regarding the specific duties of this specialty.

In light of recent developments, not least the increasing importance of guaranteeing quality in forensics and the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach, now more than ever, our Society is challenged to meet the expectations of obtaining the well-respected recognition and representation of our profession in the eyes of the government, the magistrates, the police, and the universities.

Therefore, our Society has to engage in the promotion of the application of forensic biomedical science as a profession, and must stimulate and contribute actively to the training and continuous education of professional forensic physicians, dentists, toxicologists, geneticists… The Board has a strong desire to fulfil these intentions but is also well aware that we can only succeed with the support of all our members. We therefore invite you to engage as an active member in our Society, not only by paying your contribution but also by communicating and participating in working groups, training programmes, symposia… The Board will be happy to read your suggestions, propositions, advice, reactions… and invites you to regularly consult this renewed website. Interaction with other forensic scientists, magistrates, lawyers, police etc. will also be appreciated.

There is still a long way to go, but together we hope to finally succeed in achieving the recognition we deserve.

Prof. Dr. Wim Van de Voorde

(Former president 2014-2016)

The executive board

Jessica Vanhaebost, MD, PhD

President

Sarah Wille, PhD

Vice President

Babette Van Rafelghem, MD

Secretary

Aurélien Partoune, MD

Treasurer

Wouter Van Den Bogaert, MD

Member

Become a member

Anyone with an interest in forensic issues is invited to submit an application for membership to the Society.

The candidate must send a cover letter to the chairman of the board. This letter must include his specific area of expertise or his specialty in forensic medicine, his curriculum vitae, as well as the names of two sponsors (professional representatives who are members of the Society, at least one of whom has the same expertise or specialty).

At the Annual Assembly (AA), candidates will be presented to the board and the members of the Society. A candidate member does not have voting rights at the Annual Assembly. Any decision to refuse will be justified by the board and feedback will be communicated to the candidate.

After two years as a candidate member and participation in at least two Annual Assemblies, the candidate member may submit a request to become a full member. The candidate will then need to make an oral scientific presentation at the Annual Assembly, after which he may become a full member with voting rights.

The annual fees are currently 100 € for full members and 50 € for trainee members.

Any request for information regarding membership must be sent via this form.

Honorary members

The General Assembly may, on the proposal of the Board of Directors and in accordance with Article 5 of the company's statutes, admit any individual to the association as an honorary member.

Honorary members are individuals whom the company wishes to particularly distinguish. They therefore obtain or retain the status of full members. Honorary members are exempt from paying the subscription fee.

Professor Henri-Jean-Victor Vleminckx (1829-1906)– founding president

Professor René Piédelièvre (1891-1975)– France

Professor Paul Brouardel (1837-1906)– France

Professor Alexandre Lacassagne (1843-1924)– France

Professor Eduard von Hofmann (1837-1897)– Austria

Professor Fernand Héger-Gilbert (1878-1957)– former president

Professor Maurice De Laet (1891-1964)– former president

Professor Jean La Barre (1896-1978)– ULB

Professor Frédéric Thomas (1906-1986)– University of Ghent (president twice)

Professor Fernand Meersseman (1923-2011)– Catholic University of Leuven

Professor Armand André (1924-2014)– University of Liège (president twice)

Professor Jacques Timperman (1930-2016)– University of Ghent

Professor G. Brahy (1938-2106)– former president, head of the department of forensic medicine at the University of Liège.

For more information:https://www.srmlb-kbggg.be/georges-brahy/

Professor G. De Roy (XXX)

Professor M. Roman (XXX)

Professor Hänsch (XXX)– pathologist and emeritus professor of forensic medicine at the University of Antwerp

Professor Philippe Lefèvre (1946- )– ULB

Professor Paul Daenens (XXX)– KU Leuven

Professor Michel Piette (1948- )– former president (twice)

Professor Jean-Pol Beauthier (1950- )– former president (twice)

Professor Frédéric Bonbled (1952-2021)– Catholic University of Louvain

Professor Wim Van de Voorde (1958- )– former president. Former head of the department of forensic medicine at the University Hospitals of Leuven and emeritus professor at KU Leuven

Former presidents

For reasons of historical completeness, you will find below the complete list ofpresidents of the Society since its creation :

1889:Victor Vleminckx (1829-1906)

1893:Emile Schrevens (1835-1899)

1896:Charles De Visscher (1852-1896)

1896:Van Vyve

1897:Léopold Miot (1835-1910)

1900:Alfred Lebrun

1903:Gabriel Corin (1864-1919)

1906 :Alphonse De Busschere

1909 :Eugène Dewez

1912 :Léon Gody

1921 :Gustave De Rechter (deceased around 1940)

1926 :Fernand Héger-Gilbert (1878-1957)

1932 :Paul Van Durme (1877-1947)

1935 :Marcel Héger (1875-1952)

1939–1947 :Maurice De Laet (1891-1964)

1947–1951 :Jean Firket (1890-1958)

1951 :Dr Marcel Alexander

1955–1959 :Paul Enderlé

1959 :Paul Moureau (1904-1968)

1963 :Frédéric Thomas (1906-1986)

1966 :Jacques Raveschot (1913-1997)

1969 :Joseph Warin (1916-2000)

1972 :Prof. F. Thomas (second term)

1976 :Armand André (1924-2014)

1979 :Armand André (second term)

1981 :Jacques Timperman (1930-2016)

1984 :Fernand Meersseman (1923-2011)

1987 :Guy De Roy

1990 :Georges Brahy (1938-2016)

1993 :Michel Piette (1948-)

1996 :Frédéric Bonbled (1952-2021)

1999 :Marcel Roman

2002 :Jean-Pol Beauthier (1950-)

2005 :Dirk Van Varenbergh

2008 :Michel Piette (second term)

2011 :Jean-Pol Beauthier (second term)

2014 :Wim Van de Voorde (1958-)

2017 :Werner Jacobs (1970-)

2020 :François Beauthier (1977-)

2023 :Bram Bekaert

This historical overview is still being finalised, pending additional contributions from colleagues.

If you have any additional information, please feel free to contact us by email.