Forensic and Post-Mortem Radiography Guidance

This document has been produced in association with the International Association of Forensic Radiographers (IAFR) (UK branch (UK IAFR)). It replaces Guidance for Radiographers providing Forensic Radiography Services (2014) and Standards of Radiographic Practice for Post-Mortem Cross-Sectional Imaging (PMC-SI) (2015), both published by the SoR.

This guidance sets the standard for radiographers who deliver forensic and PM imaging and should be applicable to all personnel involved in this service. To practice as a radiographer in the UK you must be registered with the HCPC. Radiographers hold the core skills, knowledge and behaviours to deliver clinical imaging, forensic radiography and PM radiography.

This guidance should be read in conjunction with the following resources:

• Standards of conduct, performance and ethics, HCPC (2016)
• Code of Professional Conduct, SoR (2013)
• Education and Career Framework, CoR (2022)
• Standards of proficiency – Radiographers, HCPC (2023)
• Codes of Practice, Human Tissue Authority (HTA) (2017–2021), for those working in England and Wales
• Standards for mortuary services, Scottish Government (2022), and the legislation and guidance specific to Scotland for those working in Scotland
• IAFR Guidelines for best practice: Principles for radiographers and imaging practitioners providing forensic imaging services, Doyle et al (2020)
• Guidelines for post-mortem cross-sectional imaging in adults for non-forensic deaths, The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) and The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) (2021)
• The radiological investigation of suspected physical abuse in children, the Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR) and The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) (2018), for those working with children