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Forensic Pathology > Death scenes and body recovery > Flashcards

Death scenes and body recovery Flashcards

1
Q

Types of scenes

A

Unexplained
Accidental
Drug overdose
Suicide
Suspicious

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2
Q

Before you arrive

A

Inner and outer cordons
Scene log
Common approach path
Death confirmed
Risk assessment completed
Forensic strategies in place

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3
Q

Common personnel at death scenes

A

The deceased
Crime scene examiner and manager
Crime scene photographer
Pathologist
Senior investigating officer
The press

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4
Q

Specialists at death scenes

A

Fire scene expert
Archaeologist
Anthropologist
Ballistics expert
Forensic biologist
Forensic entomologist

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5
Q

Body recovery

A

Photography/ sketches
Visual search
Speculative trace evidence recovery
Taping of body
Placing of body into bag
Transportation to mortuary
Post-mortem examination

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6
Q

Photography of body

A

Include in general scene photos
Whole body in situ
Any injuries
Tattoos/ piercings
Holding items
Front and back during recovery
methods of recovery
Any pools of body fluids to scale

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7
Q

Identification

A

Identification o the deceased is crucial in all death inquiries
The family should be notified
Medical history, work, and social history can only be obtained after an identification.
Care must be taken to unsure that the identification is 100% correct

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8
Q

Body recovery plan

A

A separate part of the forensic strategy

Follow the STOP-Assess-Plan-Do-Review –
STOP approach

Consider the subject, the evidence types, the
processes, the health and safety and the intelligence
opportunities

All should be planned for before recovery commences

Any at scene recovery only conducted under
pathologist advice and guidance

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9
Q

Procedure of bagging head

A

Do not use a tiny bag
Secure but not too tightly
Do not allow tape to touch skin/clothes

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10
Q

Procedure of bagging hands

A

Secure but not too tightly
Do not allow tape to touch skin/clothes

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11
Q

Procure of bagging feet

A

Secure but not too tightly
Do not allow tape to touch skin/clothes
The above are if a pathologist isn’t available or body in a location
where sampling cannot be safely or correctly conducted

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12
Q

Bagging issues

A

Location of body
Tight spaces
Water hazards

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13
Q

Taping of body

A

Tape body for trace evidence

Anything dry should be tape lifted

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14
Q

1:1 lifting

A

Surface debris tapings on exposed
Surfaces of the body and clothing.
Each tape is catalogued
These tapings can then be mapped
Distribution map
Very time consuming

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15
Q

Zonal taping

A

Tapings are used in larger areas
Zoned areas such as left sleeve front
Right upper arm front

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16
Q

When to body tape?

A

When the body has been undisturbed
Left in situ

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17
Q

1:1 taping method

A

Adhere pieces of tape to the body and leave in place (do not re-lift)

Number the pieces of tape

Clearly sketch, photograph and note the locations of each tape.

18
Q

Zonal taping method

A

Define ‘zones’ on the
body.

Use same tape within
the zone until full (if
necessary use more)

Clearly label which
zone the tape is from

19
Q

Transportation of body to mortuary

A

Body bag sealed and seal
photographed and recorded

Contracted undertakers attend when requested.

Body is usually followed by
police personnel

20
Q

Two types of forensic post mortem

A

Initial PM
Defence PM

21
Q

Forensic post mortem

A

Will take place as soon as possible after the discovery of body

May not be immediate due to the need for ensuring
maximising forensic recovery at the scene

Some bodies are left in situ

The body could be in any state of decay, even skeletonized
which will affect the samples available for recovery

Other factors such as body having been in water or burnt
could affect sample recovery

22
Q

Forensic post mortem personnel

A

Forensic pathologist
Anatomical pathology technician
Exhibits officer
CSM
Photographer
Wet CSI
Dry CSI

23
Q

The faculty of forensic and legal medicine

A

The Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine (FFLM)
was founded in 2005 by the Royal College of
Physicians of London

The FFLM holds a number of exams for
professionals working in Forensic and Legal
Medicine.

It is recognised as the authoritative body for the
purpose of consultation in matters of educational or
public interest concerning forensic and legal
medicine.

24
Q

Forensic pathologist

A

Independent practitioners
provide unbiased medico-legal opinions for police, lawyers and courts
Have to be registered by the Home Office Pathology Delivery Board
Perform medico-legal post mortem examinations on behalf of Coroners
They attend
scenes of suspicious death and assist in the collection of
forensic evidence at such scenes.
Are medically qualified doctors, registered by the General Medical Council (GMC)

25
Q

Anatomical pathology technician

A

Assists the pathologist with technical aspects of the PM

Is a mortuary employee

Hands equipment such as scalpels and knives to the Pathologist

Assists with the preparation of the body and weighing the organs

Sews the body up and may undertake reconstruction

Careers guidance if you are interested in this role -career path with defined training
courses

26
Q

Exhibits officer

A

Responsible for the cataloguing and continuity of exhibits in a
major enquiry

Ensure the exhibits are stored in the MIT storage system

At the end of the PM will take all packaged and labelled exhibits
from the pathologist via the clean CSI

All exhibits are logged onto HOLMES

27
Q

Crime scene manager

A

Will brief the pathologist on the background of the case

Will create forensic strategy

Will usually provide scene photographs

Will discuss with the pathologist the required samples and seek advice where required

Will arrange staff and logistics from scientific support

Will feed back to MIT and the SIO results and findings

28
Q

Dry CSI

A

Facilitates the pathologist by providing appropriate items for samples
being recovered

Must be aware of the item that the pathologist will require and have it
immediately available – can pay to be one step ahead

This can be dirty work

They pass these items into bags held by the clean CSI, so external packaging is not contaminated

29
Q

Clean CSI

A

Scribe for pathologist
Records the exhibits list

Writes up all evidence bags for the pathologist to sign at the end

Ensures the correct exhibits from the dirty CSI are in the right bags and sealed/packaged
correctly

Ensures continuity from exhibits officer

Should provide storage advice

Must ensure copies of exhibit list are made for pathologist and CSM

Prevents contamination of external packaging

30
Q

PPE

A

Wear PPE
Overshoes or mortuary wellies
Gloves
Masks

31
Q

Forensic post mortem cons

A

Time consuming

Requires concentration, standing around waiting
and other tiring activities

Can be exhausting, smelly and dirty

32
Q

Swabs and fingernails

A

Swabs may be taken from orifices including the
nostrils, mouth, vagina and anus

Fingernail scrapings or clippings may be taken

33
Q

Hair samples

A

Hair samples and combings will be taken
Hair packaged in TE bag

34
Q

Injuries on the body

A

The body will then be washed down to enable
clear view of injuries

Each visible injury will be measured, described,
recorded (by the pathologist) and photographed

Areas such as the eyes, mouth and
genital area checked for injuries

35
Q

Samples

A

The genital areas will be dissected, and further
swabs may be taken

The neck and throat will be dissected

Samples will be taken for histology

Samples will be taken for DNA (blood) and
toxicology (blood and urine)

The dirty CSI will ensure the correct vials are used to decant the blood and urine samples into

36
Q

Post mortem hypostasis

A

Skin discolouration resulting from the gravitational
pooling of blood in the veins and capillaries of the
dependent parts of the body

37
Q

Body movement

A

If body is moved before the onset of rigor then
the joints will become fixed in the new position in
which the body is placed.

38
Q

Factors affecting rigor

A

Environmental temp.

Degree of muscular activity before death

Rapid onset in children and the aged than in
muscular young adults.

Develops early and passes quickly in deaths from
infections or from wasting diseases.

39
Q

Cadaveric spasm

A

Instantaneous Rigor (rigidity)

Muscular rigidity at the moment of death

Cause is unknown but associated with
violent deaths in intense emotions

Most commonly affects a group of muscles
only

40
Q

Order of changes

A

Skin blisters
Gas formation begins
Purging of urine, faeces and
bloody fluids

41
Q

Abdominal injuries

A

Blunt
Penetrating
Blast

42
Q

Head injuries

A

Linear fracture
Pond fracture
Depressed fracture
Hinge fracture

Forensic Pathology (11 decks)

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