PM Flashcards
What experts may attend the PM?
Odontologist Biologist Medical illustrator Toxicologist Ballistics expert Crime scene examiner Entomologist Anthropologist
What equipment with the OC body have available for the p.m.?
MEK Tox kit Body label Notebook and pens Exhibit schedule Pol 47 Pol 265 Pol 265A Exhibit packaging supplies Protective clothing Scene photographs Available exhibit numbers Pre-printed exhibit labels A roll of brown paper GSR Kit
Taking exhibits to the mortuary
Exhibits must be properly packaged to avoid contamination but also clearly visible.
Weapons must not be taken to the mortuary until after the PM has been conducted.
The OC body must maintain continuity of any exhibit used in this way.
Cultural issues
Seek assistance from specialist advisors with cultural issues relating to the victim or others.
This will assist the progress of the investigation and establish positive relations and avoid inadvertent offence being caused.
Maori culture
Engage the as soon as possible.
Be sensitive to cultural and religious expectations.
Be familiar with the local Maori needs and practices.
Insure Maori have culturally appropriate services that are maintained administered when dealing with death scene attendances and handling human remains.
What must the OC body do on arrival at the mortuary?
Insure mortuary staff do not wash the body.
Insure the body is labelled and secured in the secure mortuary fridge.
Insure the body remains in its present condition until the PM begins.
Arrange formal ID
What are some alternate means for identifying a body?
In consultation with the coroner consider the following:
Fingerprints, DNA, dental records, Eye examination records, medical records including scars birthmarks implants prosthetics x-rays surgical wounds amputations and tattoos
Personal effects and facial reconstruction
What information can a pathologist and anthropologist provide in relation to skeletal remains?
Whether the remains are actually bones.
Whether the bones are human.
The age, gender, height and race of the person.
What information should be made available to the pathologist prior to the p.m.?
The copy of the poll 47 An MEK Toxicology kit Medical records of the deceased Photographs and or video from the same including exhibits, weapons and the body in situ.
What are the steps to be taken in relation to stripping the body?
Must be stripped in the presence of the pathologist.
Remove the body from the mortuary fridge and take to the PM room.
Take possession of the bodybag and any sheets or wrappings as exhibits.
Direct place photographer to take photographs of the body
Remove clothing items
Make an inventory of clothing and possessions
Label each item
Seal each item in a separate bag or container
Ensure no items contact one another avoiding cross-contamination
Maintain security and continuity of the body and exhibits
With serious head trauma cases consider washing hair into a fine sieve to collect trace evidence
Photograph in the body.
Ensure sufficient appropriate photographs taken of the body before it is stripped, after it is stripped, close-up photographs of any wounds, marks, internal injuries and unusual features, must use measuring scale.
Radiological semination should be considered where appropriate. I.e. cases of suspected non-accidental injury to the children, death by firearm, badly burnt or decomposed bodies.
CT scans May assist tracing the path of bullets and in cases of blunt force trauma injuries.
What points should the pathologist cover during the p.m.?
They must record the description of the body including height, weight, build, Eye colour and hair
Record the bodys external appearance including injuries, bruises, scars, scratches, discolouration and imperfections
Use specialist kits for collecting evidence samples I.e. MEK, Tox Kit, GSR or post-mortem kit.
Items of mutual interest to the pathologist and investigation team.
This includes items found at the scene and during p.m.
These must be preserved and handled in accordance with standard exhibit protocols.
They include ballistic projectiles, foreign items such as hair, fibres, blood or semen and ligatures
After the PM
In the wet or damp exhibits must be unsealed and dried before being repackaged and resealed.
The OC body must hand all of the exhibits to the lOC exhibits including the PM scene exhibit schedule, copy of OC body’s notebook, formal statement.
What must the sudden death file include?
A statement relating to the victim’s formal identification.
A copy of the pol 47. (Pol 47A for child under 2).
A copy of the deceased person certificate – pol 265.
A copy of the deceased person identification – pol 265A
