NCJ Number
60329
Journal
Zeitschrift fuer Rechtsmedizin Volume: 82 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 137-143
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE USEFULNESS OF NONINVASIVE COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY IN FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM CEREBRAL TRAUMA IS DEMONSTRATED WITH THREE CASE STUDIES.
Abstract
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY IS SHOWN TO FACILITATE (1) EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF REVERSIBLE BRAIN DAMAGE IN THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING POSTTRAUMATIC CONFUSION FOR CRIMINAL AND CIVIL SUITS, (2) ASSESSMENT OF DELAYED RESULTS FROM PENETRATING OR HIDDEN CEREBRAL INJURIES TO SETTLE LEGAL ISSUES, AND (3) EVALUATION OF THE ORGANIC GENESIS OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHEN ESTABLISHING MENTAL COMPETENCE AND DETERMINING APPROPRIATE SENTENCES AND REHABILITATIVE OR SECURITY MEASURES. THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE CASE HISTORIES, I.E., HEAD INJURIES CAUSED IN TWO BICYCLE ACCIDENTS AND THE ORGANICALLY INDUCED MENTAL INSTABILITY OF A MURDERER, ILLUSTRATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROCEDURE IN DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL AND ORGANIC DISTURBANCES; IN ESTIMATING THE ACTUAL EXTENT OF BRAIN DAMAGE OR THE AGE AND PATHOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF INJURIES; AND IN DETERMINING THE CAUSE, EFFECT, AND REVERSIBILITY OF INJURIES. ILLUSTRATIONS OF TOMOGRAPHIC FINDINGS AND A BRIEF BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)