摘要:

In recent years, religious objection to autopsy has become an ethical dilemma for medical examiners. We present two cases that illustrate these dilemmas, and we also review the history and legal considerations of religious objection to autopsy.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1990

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This article presents our experience with several cases of disinterment, including reasons for disinterment, the methodology involved, and the value of this activity in solving medicolegal problems.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1990

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Fragments of tissue, intermediate targets, and debris related to firing are embedded in the fine striations and deforming edges of bullets. Because most of these fragments are too small to visualize and process as histologic sections, this material is usually washed away when the projectiles are cleaned following removal at autopsy. By preserving the rinsing material that results from routine cleaning of projectiles, it may be possible to evaluate adherent material from the bullet by cytologic techniques, including filter preparations, cell blocks, and smears of macroscopic tissue fragments. Bullet-wash cytology produced cellular elements, tissue fragments, and inert material from intermediate targets. Different tissue elements could be documented with a given projectile; this information could be utilized to document the path of a bullet through the body or intermediate target. This initial study suggests that low- and high-velocity projectiles produce different types of tissue debris, with much more fragmentation and scarcity of cellular components in the high-velocity rounds. Inert material, resulting from intermediate targets, such as clothing, as well as gunshot residue on the bullet or debris from the barrel could be distinguished on preparations. There was a difference in tissue representation of adherent material on the bullet; connective tissue, mesothelial coverings, and fragments from organs with higher elastic and cohesive properties were seen with much greater frequency on the filters than were loosely cohesive and friable organs such as liver and spleen. The cytologic preparations from projectile washings reflect both the path taken by the bullet and the ballistic damage to the organs. Thus, the cytologic evaluation of bullet washings may be useful in the incorporation of gunshot wound evaluation to support documentation of the trajectory of the projectile.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1990

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The Green River Murder Investigation in King County, Washington, is currently the longest active serial murder investigation in U.S. history. During its course, over 26 separate scenes with from one to five victims each have been processed. The experience of the authors is presented in order to acquaint other agencies with techniques of outdoor scene processing that have evolved during recovery of remains from Green River and other skeletal cases.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1990

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Infection control in the workplace is becoming an increasingly important issue, not only for health care workers, but also for any workers who could potentially be exposed to infectious material. We discuss the nature, modes of transmission, and infectivity of important infectious agents likely to be encountered in the course of forensic investigations. We provide principles and guidelines for appropriate procedures and practices to be followed in a program of infection control.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1990

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

During the course of medicolegal postmortem examinations, forensic pathologists often encounter the sequelae of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that was administered by medical and paramedical personnel. A wide variety of CPR-related injuries have been described since the institution nearly 30 years ago of this now commonplace emergency technique. The forensic pathologist must be aware of both typical and unusual CPR-related trauma patterns in order to differentiate between injury produced during emergency therapy procedures and injury sustained through other mechanisms (for example, during an assault or an accident). This article describes two recent separate and unrelated incidents in which an elderly woman was murdered. In each instance, bony injuries of the anterior thoracic wall structures were identified during the autopsy. Defense attorneys in each case attempted to use these injuries as proof that their accused clients had performed external cardiac massage on their victims, thus indicating that the homicides had not been intentional, and that the perpetrators showed remorse. These cases are presented, with a discussion of the typical features of CPR-related thoracic wall trauma as compared with willfully inflicted injury.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1990

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The role of the skin as a repository and masker of evidence is evaluated. Skin examination and testing are very important in the (a) identification of victims and suspects (for example, by fingerprints, lip prints, and fingernail marks), (b) recognition of patterns and shape of injurious energy impacts (for instance, recognition of type of injury and particular weapon), and (c) recovery of embedded evidence (for example, glass, wood, powder, explosives, and paint). It is also important to realize that the skin may conceal evidence by masking significant and/or lethal internal injuries.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1990

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Toxicological analyses on a putrefied cadaver are sometimes difficult to perform because of the absence of blood and urine. In this study, fly larvae, being living material, are proposed as a new medium of investigation in forensic toxicology. Bromazepam and levomepromazine were identified and assayed in the remains of cerebral tissue, in the clavicle of a putrefied cadaver, and in the fly larvae found on and in the corpse.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1990

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The medical examiner is responsible for certifying and determining the cause of death of any person dying from criminal violence, accident, suicide, when unattended by a physician, in police custody, or in any suspicious or unusual manner. A less well-recognized, but no less important, responsibility of the medical examiner is the investigation of deaths of individuals who die at the workplace. The manner of death of most job-related fatalities has been traditionally classified as accidental. In recent times, prosecutors have scrutinized these cases more carefully. The results of some investigations have prompted them to bring criminal charges against employers for blatant negligence that contributed directly to injuries and deaths of employees. This paper is devoted to a review of the controversy surrounding the issue of industrial homicide, illustrative cases, and the role of the medical examiner in the investigation of deaths at the workplace.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1990

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

A small wound found on the ear of a homicide victim was inflicted by either a knife or a sharp fragment of ceramic. To test the potential usefulness of cytologic examination of wound edges for fragments of inert material from the assault weapon, the wound was rinsed and cytologic filters were prepared from the retained rinsing material. The particulate matter present on filters included microscopic fragments of crockery admixed with blood and other tissue components. This observation supported other physical evidence that the wound was caused by the sharp edge of a ceramic crock rather than by the knife. This case demonstrates the potential usefulness of cytologic examination of wound edges.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1990

数据来源: OVID