NCJ Number
52771
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
IN THIS VIDEO TAPE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR FORENSIC PATHOLOGISTS, CASES OF MISLABELED AND UNLABELED DEATHS ARE DISCUSSED TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIONS IN QUESTIONABLE CASES.
Abstract
SEVERAL CASE HISTORIES OF MISLABELED DEATHS ARE PRESENTED TO PORTRAY THE DANGERS OF ASSIGNING AN APPARENT DEATH CAUSE WITHOUT COMPREHENSIVE FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF CORPSES. DOCTORS AND CORONERS OFTEN MISLABEL DEATHS WHEN THEY JUDGE THE CAUSE SOLELY BY THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE DECEASED. FORENSIC INVESTIGATORS SHOULD LOOK AT THE EXTREMITIES, CEREBRAL MATTER, AND SPINE OF THE CORPSE FOR CLUES TO THE TRUE CAUSES OF DEATH. MISLABELING CAN HAVE GREAT IMPLICATIONS FOR INSURANCE SETTLEMENTS AND LEAD TO THE NEGLECT OF EVIDENCE OF HOMICIDE. PERIMORTEM INJURIES THAT OCCUR AT DEATH OR THE PERIOD JUST AFTER DEATH AND POST-MORTEM INJURIES CAN ALSO INTERFERE WITH CORRECT CAUSE IDENTIFICATION. TECHNIQUES FOR INVESTIGATING THE POSSIBILITIES OF THESE TYPES ARE DISCUSSED. (DAG)