Forensic Flashcards
Characteristics of blunt force trauma
- Bruises -> epidermis still intact
- Abrasions - not involving full thickness of skin
- Lacerations
Characteristics of sharp force trauma
- Incised wound
- Puncture/stab wound - deeper than long.
Compare incised wound vs laceration?
Incised has blunt irregular edges vs Clean sharp edges
Incised has surrounding injuries vs No surrounding injuries
Incised due to blunt trauma vs Sharp force trauma
5 manners of death?
- Natural
- Undetermined
- Homicide
- Suicidal
- Accidental
Diff btw Cause vs Mechanism vs Manner of death?
What is CAUSE of death?
Disease/trauma that directly caused the death. Must fulfill anatomical/pathological criteria AND be able to cause death on its own.
E.g. Drug OD, heart attack
What is Mechanism of death?
Physiological compromise that led to death. E.g. AMI victim dying from deadly change to heart rhythm, causing shock.
Cause = AMI
Mechanism = cardiac arrhythmia
What is MANNER of death?
How the cause of death came about.
the 5 manners of death!!!
Steps to certify death?
- Confirm identity
- Inspect the body
- Determine cause of death
- Confirm death
KEEP ALL CLINICAL RECORDS FOR MIN 7 YEARS
How to write cause of death?
1A = Primary cause. If primary cause is the mechanism of death e.g. septicemia, needs backup from 1B and 1C.
1B/1C = Write secondary/tertiary causes - conditions that led directly to primary cause
2 = Contributory causes -> Additional medical conditions that impacted outcome of death but are neither primary nor secondary causes.
1b = pneumonia
2 = T2DM
1a = septicaemia
What is a reportable death?
- Cause / Manner of death is unknown
- Manner of death is unnatural
- Person’s identity unknown
- Death under suspicious circumstances
- Death due to unlawful act
Accident, in medical care, workplace accident etc.
What is role of coroner?
District judge conducting judicial invx into sudden, unnatural and violent deaths.
Can DIRECT a forensic pathologist to investigate cause and circumstances connected to a reportable death
What is the role of forensic pathologist
Doctor trained in medical-legal invx of SUU deaths, with aim of supporting justice.
Decides whether an autopsy is needed to ascertain medical cause of death.
Conducts the autopsy or external exam, providing expert opinion on time, cause and circumstances of death.
What is the role of a investigation officer?
Police officer trained in criminal invx
Establishes facts and circumstances around a death through corroborative hx, retrieving medical records to give to pathologist.
Submits investigative report to State Coroner
Types of autopsies?
Coroner’s autopsies - no need NOK consent. Can do full post-mortem autopsy. It is to study cause of death.
Cllinical autopsy - need consent. Used for research. Can be limited autopsy.
What are 3 steps of an autopsy?
- External exam
- Internal exam
- Reconstitution of the body
Detailed steps of an autopsy?
- External exam - photograph body, look for external injuries, description of body.
- Torso organs removed in en bloc method of Ghon, and inspected. Urine, blood, gastric contents are sampled.
- Reconstitution - put organs in plastic bag into cavity. Suture back chest flap and skullcap.
THEN WRITE THE AUTOPSY REPORT!
