Published: 28.07.2025.

The State Centre for Forensic Medical Examination of the Republic of Latvia (hereinafter – the Centre) is the specialised medical institution under the authority of the Minister for Health with the basic medical specialty of forensic medical expert. In accordance with the Law on Forensic Experts, it is also a forensic expert institution.

The Centre performs the following functions:

  1. Provide forensic medical examinations;

  2. Organize scientific work and postgraduate education in the field of forensic medicine;
  3. Provide consultative support to law enforcement and healthcare institutions on forensic medical issues;
  4. Ensure, to the extent possible, the supply of tissue transplants to healthcare institutions.

To carry out these functions, the Centre is tasked with:

  1. Performing forensic medical examinations of living and deceased persons, chemical-toxicological research, identification of narcotic, psychotropic and toxic substances, alcohol, its homologues and substitutes, as well as analysis of human biological material and serological testing, and DNA genotyping;

  2. Conducting forensic medical examinations in cases where there are suspicions of improper performance of professional duties by medical personnel;
  3. Participating in the development of draft legislation and providing opinions on legislative acts prepared by other institutions in the field of forensic medicine;
  4. Promoting the observance of human rights and the prevention of violations in forensic medical practice;
  5. Organizing professional training on forensic medical examination topics at the request of law enforcement institutions;
  6. Cooperating with higher education institutions in the fields of medicine and law to ensure the training and postgraduate education of forensic medical specialists;
  7. Methodically guiding, coordinating, and providing practical support for the work of experts in the joint forensic medical examination departments;
  8. Providing statistical information on the field of forensic medicine at the request of public administration institutions;
  9. Collecting, preparing, and storing biological material of unidentified and violently deceased individuals in the Archive of Biological Material from Human Remains;
  10.  Ensure, to the extent possible, the supply of tissue transplants to healthcare institutions.