Methods of identification after death - ANSWER1. Visual
2. Photographic
3. Clothing and personal effects
4. Fingerprinting
5. Dental records
6. DNA
Early Development of Autopsy in Forensic Investigations - ANSWER1507: Bamberg Code describes the first written records of forensic pathology, i...
Methods of identification after death - ANSWER1. Visual
2. Photographic
3. Clothing and personal effects
4. Fingerprinting
5. Dental records
6. DNA
Early Development of Autopsy in Forensic Investigations - ANSWER1507: 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
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? - ANSWER1. 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? - ANSWERTwo Main Reasons:
1. Discovery (cause & manner of death)
2. Documentation (details on injuries, diseases, etc.)
What is a forensic pathologist? - ANSWER- 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
- 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
Mechanism of Death - ANSWER- 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 - ANSWERThe means by which death occurred
Five manners: accident, suicide, homicide, natural, undetermined
Pending Cause of Death - ANSWER- 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 - ANSWER- 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 - ANSWERTrue
Goals of the medico-legal autopsy: - ANSWER- 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
The Pathologist Register - ANSWER1. 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 - ANSWERThe 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
- Trace evidence collection, etc.
5 Parts of the Medicolegal Autopsy - ANSWER1. 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 - ANSWERAntemortem: 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 - ANSWER- 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 - ANSWER- Knives, picks, axes, hatchets
- Leaves identifiable marks on tissue, muscle and bone
- Sharp-pointed instruments = deeper and smoother holes
- Flat-bladed objects = longer V-shaped notches
- Sharp edges of knives can cut and splinter bone creating clean or curled edges like whitted wood
- Dull edges dent or gouge tissue and bone leaving uneven edges
- The direction of injury and instrument used can be determined by microscopic examination (SEM)
and can assist with sequence of events, identify instrument used, and sometimes the intent of the
perpetrator
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