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FSC100 Final Exam Prep | Questions And Answers Latest {} A+ Graded | 100% Verified
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FSC100 Final Exam Prep | Questions And Answers Latest {2024- 2025} A+ Graded | 100%Verified
Methods of identification after death - 1. Visual
2. Photographic
3. Clothing and personal effects
4. Fingerprinting
5. Dental records
6. DNA
Early Development of Autopsy in Forensic Investigations - 1507: Bamberg Code describes the first
written records of forensic pathology, included provisions related to the investigation of crimes and
highlighted the importance of medical evidence in death cases
1530: Constitutio Criminalis Carolina (AKA Carolina)
- A more extensive and comprehensive penal code
- Aimed to standardize laws in the Holy Roman Empire
- Issued by Emperor Charles V.
- requiring a medical testimony be an integral part of the proof and trials involving decisions regarding
whether the death was a homicide, etc.
- Didn't specify performing a total autopsy but wounds were opened to determine depth & direction
- First indication of "Some degree of expertise" - people needed to be specialized in pathology
16th Century: Ambrose Pare performed medicolegal autopsies
- Examined the lungs of smothered children to understand physiological effects of different death
- Also studied the traces left by sexual assault
When do Forensic Pathologists Get Involved? - 1. When the coroner is unable to answer any of the 5
questions
2. When there is a possibility of involvement in the criminal justice system
,Why do pathologists perform an autopsy? - Two Main Reasons:
1. Discovery (cause & manner of death)
2. Documentation (details on injuries, diseases, etc.)
What is a forensic pathologist? - - A medical doctor
- Specialist certifications in anatomical pathology and additional training in forensic pathology
- Requires at least 14 years of university & postgrad training
- Most forensic pathologists also hold master's degrees or PhDs
- Has the knowledge of the effects of disease & injury on the body in the context of the law
The Pathologist Register - 1. Category A (forensic pathologists)
- Can perform autopsies on all types of medicolegal cases
- This includes homicides and criminally suspicious adult and pediatric cases
2. Category B (anatomical pathologists)
- Performs autoposies on non-homicide/non-criminally suspicious adult cases
3. Category C (pediatric pathologists)
- Performs autopsies on non-homicide/non-criminally suspicious pediatric cases
Cause of Death - The actual trauma, event, disease or illness that triggers the physiological process
resulting in death (ex: asphyxia)
Can be immediate or underlying:
--> Immediate: the disease, injury, or complication directly preceding death and which is the ultimate
consequence of the underlying cause
--> Underlying: the disease or injury initiating the chain of events that ultimately lead to the cessation of
life
,Mechanism of Death - - The physiological or functional derangement resulting in failure of one or more
vital organs
- Usually doesn't require mention in death certificates
- Ex: cardiac arrhythmia, respiratory arrest, sepsis, multisystem organ failure
Manner of death - The means by which death occurred
Five manners: accident, suicide, homicide, natural, undetermined
Pending Cause of Death - - The cause of death can be named as "pending" by the pathologist if it is still
unknown after the autopsy and there is a possibility that further information may permit his/her
determination of the cause of death
- Indicates additional studies or investigations are needed, like toxicology in drug related deaths
The Medico-Legal Autopsy - - a medical investigation on behalf of greater society to determine how and
why its citizens die
- Performed under legislation of the Coroner's Act, NOT family consent.
True or False: When a coroner takes jurisdiction of a body, the family has no rights to the remains until
the body is released back to them - True
Goals of the medico-legal autopsy: - - Determine the cause of death
- Determine the mechanism of death
- Estimate the time of death and/or timing of injuries
- Determine the nature and mechanism of injuries
- Give opinions as to the nature of instruments/weapons that might've been involved in creating the
observed injuries
- Trace evidence collection, etc.
5 Parts of the Medicolegal Autopsy - 1. Assessment of the scene & circumstances surrounding the death
2. External examination of the body
, 3. Internal examination of the body
4. Interpretation of additional studies in the context of the case (testing like toxicology if needed)
5. Synthesis of a medicolegal opinion (pathologist uses all gathered info to create a comprehensive
opinion including the cause and manner of death)
The Mortems - Antemortem: before death
--> Not of significant assistance w/ manner or cause of death
Useful for identification purposes: premortem medical/dental records, characteristics of healed injuries
and bone
Perimortem: around time of death
--> Can be associated with the manner and cause of death
--> Consider two factors:
1. Nature of the lesion (type of injury: fracture, amputation, puncture)
2. Cause of lesion (event causing the wound: knife, axe, stress injury)
Postmortem: after death
--> intentional (dismemberment) or unintentional (animal scavenging)
Bullet Wound - - A small projectile propelled at high velocity
- Pattern depends on tissue, bone and ballistic properties of the projectile
- Entrance hole usually circular
- Beveled internally, sharply edged
- Exit hole more ragged and beveled externally
- A higher velocity projectile causes greater and more rapid fracturing than low velocity
- Bullet fragmentation is common
Sharp force injury - - Knives, picks, axes, hatchets
- Leaves identifiable marks on tissue, muscle and bone
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