NCJ Number
43951
Editor(s)
R S FISHER,
C S PETTY
Date Published
1977
Length
210 pages
Annotation
A QUICK-REFERENCE HANDBOOK TO HELP COMMUNITY PATHOLOGISTS CONVERT STANDARD AUTOPSY PROCEDURE INTO A MEDICOLEGAL AUTOPSY INCLUDES PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE, CHECKLISTS OF POSSIBLE EVIDENCE FOR VARIOUS CRIMES, AND LEGAL PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THIS MANUAL IS DESIGNED FOR THE PRACTICING PATHOLOGIST WHO MUST DEAL OCCASIONALLY WITH CRIME EVIDENCE. INITIAL CHAPTERS COVER THE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OF MEDICOLEGAL EXAMINATIONS, INCLUDING EXAMINATION OF CLOTHING, PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE, DETERMINING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TIME OF INJURY AND TIME OF DEATH, AND SPECIAL BODY FLUID ANALYSES OFTEN REQUIRED. CHECKLISTS ARE GIVEN FOR COMMON SITUATIONS SUCH AS DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF SUDDEN UNEXPECTED DEATH (INCLUDING SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME), THE BATTERED CHILD, RAPE, FIRE AND ELECTRICAL INJURY VICTIMS (ESPECIALLY WHEN FOUL PLAY MIGHT BE EXPECTED), NECK INJURIES, ASPHYXIAL DEATHS, DROWNING, VARIOUS TYPES OF BULLET WOUNDS, CUTTING AND STABBING WOUNDS, AND DRUG- AND ALCOHOL-RELATED DEATHS. EACH CHAPTER INCLUDES APPROPRIATE PRELIMINARY STEPS, ITEMS OFTEN OVERLOOKED, AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE ADMISSIBILITY AND VALIDITY OF EVIDENCE OBTAINED. TABLES SUMMARIZE CHARACTERISTICS OF WOUNDS PRODUCED BY VARIOUS TYPES OF GUNS. THERE IS ALSO A REFERENCE TABLE OF MAXIMUM THERAPEUTIC LEVELS AND MINIMUM LETHAL LEVELS OF COMMON DRUGS AND POISONS PLUS A SUGGESTED FORENSIC LIBRARY FOR THE NONFORENSIC PATHOLOGIST.