Lecture 12: forensic necropsy

Question 1

To determine the cause/manner of death the vet will need to consider what 3 things

Answer 1

crime scene findings
hx,
necropsy findings

Question 2

performed in order to investigate unnatural and suspicious, possible litigious or criminal deaths.

Answer 2

forensic necropsy

Question 3

ID, characterize and record lesions in order to determine cause of death or confirm/deny clinical diagnoses, chronic disease progression, provide feedback on implemented therapies

Answer 3

traditional necropsy

Question 4

5 goals of a forensic necropsy

Answer 4

a. Cause of death
b. Manner of death
c. Contributory causes of death
d. Mechanism of death
e. ESTIMATE the postmortem interval

Question 5

injury, disease, or combination of the two that initiates a train of physiological disturbances that, no matter how brief or prolonged, results in the fatal termination of an animals life

Answer 5

cause of death

Question 6

cause of death; A cat hit with a baseball bat that required humane euthanasia

Answer 6

blunt force trauma

Question 7

Explains how the cause of death came about, and can classified

Answer 7

manner of death

Question 8

5 classifications for manner of death

Answer 8

i. Natural
ii. Accidental
iii. Non-accidental or unlawful
iv. Euthanasia
v. Undetermined

Question 9

manner of death; A cat hit with a baseball bat that required humane euthanasia

Answer 9

NAI

Question 10

manner and cause of death are __ based on investigation and analysis of data

Answer 10

opinions

Question 11

mechanism of death; A cat hit with a baseball bat that required humane euthanasia

Answer 11

humane euthanasia

Question 12

Diseases or injuries that significantly contribute to the cause of death; one or more contributory cause may be present.

Answer 12

contributory causes of death

ie if the cat example had underlying HW dz

Question 13

physiological derangement resulting in death (hemorrhage, septicemia, euthanasia)

Answer 13

mechanism of death

Question 14

the time since death or the time that has elapsed between the death of the animal and the attempt to determine the time of death.

Answer 14

postmortem interval

Question 15

what should accompany an animal for forensic necropsy

Answer 15

a ORIGINAL chain of custody and/or evidence receipt!

Question 16

any evidence collected from a body requires a

Answer 16

evidence receipt

Question 17

first steps by the veterinarian on receipt of the bod

Answer 17

documentation/photos fo how body was received

assess the evidence seals

Question 18

after documenting the package but before starting the necropsy always do

Answer 18

full body radiographs, at least 2 views!

Question 19

T/F: photographic documentation of forensic necropsy is the same as the live medical exam

Answer 19

true

Question 20

Postmortem red-purple “discoloration” of the body due to pooling of the blood in dependent sites of the body, except the areas exposed to direct pressure.

Answer 20

livor mortis or lividity

Question 21

differentiate between postmortem lividity and antemortem bruising

Answer 21

incising the area- Bruising has diffuse hemorrhage into the soft tissues, whereas with lividity blood is confined to the vessels

Over time can be difficult to differentiate with advanced decomposition as the vessels become permeable and the lividity becomes “fixed”

Question 22

following external exam and rads what is the next step before moving to the internal necropsy/exam

Answer 22

shave and reflect skin (not typically done on traditional necrospy)

Question 23

forensic necropsy report should

Answer 23

clearly convey the victims condition and an understanding of what has or has not occurred to the victim

vet must ensure court understands what happened to victim but be aware of limitations and the gaps in vet forensic knowledge/studies

Question 24

target audience for forensic necropsy report

Answer 24

investigators
prosecutors
judge
jury

Question 25

branch of vet med concerned with determining the cause and manner of death

Answer 25

vet forensic pathology

Question 26

purpose of forensic necropsy

Answer 26

ID
document
preserve evidence
anticipate questions that will be asked

Question 27

purpose of the __ is to clearly convey victim’s conditon and an understanding of what has or has not occured to the victim

Answer 27

forensic necropsy report