NCJ Number
11608
Date Published
1973
Length
370 pages
Annotation
TECHNIQUES, PROCEDURES, AND DIAGNOSTIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR USE IN INVESTIGATING SCENES OF DEATH AND CONDUCTING POSTMORTEM, MEDICOLEGAL EXAMINATIONS.
Abstract
THE INVESTIGATION OF A CRIME OR ACCIDENT RESULTING IN DEATH IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION OF THE DECEASED. BEGINNING WITH A CHAPTER ON INVESTIGATING AND DOCUMENTING THE DEATH SCENE, HANDBOOK OF FORENSIC PATHOLOGY COVERS ALL THE BASIC, ROUTINE DISEASES, INJURIES AND OTHER PATHOLOGIC CONSIDERATIONS ENCOUNTERED BY MEDICAL EXAMINERS, POLICE OFFICERS, FORENSIC PATHOLOGISTS, CORONERS, AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN MEDICAL-LEGAL INVESTIGATIONS. SEPARATE CHAPTERS DISCUSS SUCH TOPICS AS SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR THE MEDICOLEGAL AUTOPSY, ESTIMATING TIME OF DEATH, IDENTIFICATION OF THE DEAD, AND THE DIAGNOSES OF VARIOUS CAUSES OF DEATH. THE AUTHOR ALSO INCLUDES INFREQUENTLY SEEN, ATYPICAL, AND HIGHLY COMPLEX PROGLEMS MET IN FORENSIC PATHOLOGY, SUCH AS THERAPEUTIC MISHAPS (E.G. ANESTHETIC DEATHS, OVERDOSES, SURGICAL COMPLICATIONS), PATHOLOGICAL ARTEFACTS (I.E. CHANGES CAUSED IN THE BODY AFTER DEATH WHICH MAY LEAD TO MISINTERPRETATION OF ANTEMORTEM FINDINGS), AND THE 'NEGATIVE' AUTOPSY IN WHICH ALL EFFORTS FAIL TO REVEAL A CAUSE OF DEATH. TECHNIQUES FOR THE KEY PROCEDURES OF COLLECTING AND STORING TOXICOLOGICAL SAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS ARE DESCRIBED, ALONG WITH THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MANY POISONS. THE FINAL CHAPTER DISCUSSES THE PATHOLOGIST'S ROLE AS AN EXPERT WITNESS. MANY CAPTIONED PHOTOGRAPHS DEMONSTRATING POSTMORTEM CONDITIONS ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED). (SNI ABSTRACT)