NCJ Number
34805
Date Published
1976
Length
287 pages
Annotation
THIS TEXTBOOK DISCUSSES IN A STEP-BY-STEP FASHION ALL CURRENT MEDICOLEGAL CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION OF HOMICIDES, SUICIDES, AND ACCIDENTS INVOLVING FIREARMS.
Abstract
THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MEDICAL INVESTIGATORS AND THE POLICE ARE EXPLICITLY OUTLINED, AND GUIDELINES ARE ESTABLISHED FOR COOPERATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN THE TWO. INCLUDED ARE THE INVESTIGATION OF THE SCENE OF INJURY OR DEATH; COLLECTION OF EVIDENCE; FOLLOWUP INVESTIGATIONS IN THE AUTOPSY ROOM AND FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORY; THE ROLE OF THE POLICE; THE ROLES OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN, MEDICAL EXAMINER, PATHOLOGIST, AND ALL OTHER MEDICAL PERSONNEL; HANDLING OF CASES OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE; PREPARATION OF REPORTS; AND PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE IN COURT. A SEPARATE CHAPTER IS DEVOTED TO CURRENT RESEARCH IN THE INVESTIGATION OF SHOOTING CASES. DR. FATTEH COVERS SUCH MODERN METHODS AS NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS AND ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY AS RESEARCH TOOLS TO STUDY GUNSHOT RESIDUES. THE AUTHOR STRESSES THAT, IN ORDER TO AVOID A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE, PHYSICIANS MUST ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING PROPER RECORDS WHICH MAY BE LATER SUMMONED BY THE COURT; REPORTING SHOOTINGS; AND, IF SURGERY IS PERFORMED, PRESERVING ALL EXCISED TISSUE AND FRAGMENTS OF BONE, ANY BULLETS OR FRAGMENTS OF BULLETS REMOVED, CLOTHING FIBERS AND HAIR SAMPLES, ETC. FOR THE PATHOLOGIST, THE METHODS OF DOCUMENTING VARIOUS FINDINGS ON APPROPRIATE CHARTS AND DIAGRAMS ARE FULLY DESCRIBED. A HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF FIREARMS IS GIVEN AS WELL AS BASIC INFORMATION ON MODERN FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION. NUMEROUS PHOTOGRAPHS PROVIDE GRAPHIC REPRESENTATIONS OF CRIMINALISTIC EVIDENCE. THIS BOOK WILL BE USEFUL TO ANYONE INTERESTED OR INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION OF CASES OF FIREARM INJURIES OR DEATHS, ALL PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS WHO MAY BE CALLED UPON TO TREAT A VICTIM OR SUSPECT IN A SHOOTING CASE, MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND PATHOLOGISTS, CORONERS, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS AND AGENCIES, ATTORNEYS, ESPECIALLY CRIMINAL TRIAL LAWYERS, AND JUDGES, MEDICAL STUDENTS, LAW STUDENTS, AND STUDENTS OF CRIMINOLOGY. (SNI ABSTRACT)