...The Conventional Autopsy still has an Important Role in Modern Medicine RACHNA BAJAJ INTRODUCTION Human dissection has historically been carried out in search for humours, worms, miasmas and divine spells to explain what caused illness and death. However, as ‘scientific’ thinking advanced, there was a desire to understand disease based on the empirical evidence obtained from post-mortem examinations.1 This gave birth to one of the most important gold standards of diagnosis, a great tool for medical audit and probably the best teaching method of medicine – the autopsy. The words ‘autopsy’, ‘necropsy’ and ‘post-mortem examination’ are synonymous with each other and refer to the investigation of the human body involving an external examination followed by the dissections of the head, thorax and the abdomen. The word autopsy literally means ‘to see for oneself’. Autopsy rates in the United Kingdom (UK) currently stand at 21.9%, out of which only 0.4% are not requested by a coroner and the most common request for an autopsy occurs in cases of unexpected deaths where the cause is not apparent. Autopsies are also carried out for determination of manner of death, evaluation of ante-mortem and post-mortem diagnosis, epidemiological purposes, survey outbreaks, medical audit, research, teaching, forensic purposes and to enlighten/reassure families or inform then of hereditary diseases. Despite the well-recognised importance of autopsies in twenty-first century medicine...
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...Forensic Autopsy Name Institution Course Date Deaths resulting from blunt force trauma are the most common cases in forensic autopsy. However, it is imperative to note that some factors contribute to the actual death of the victim, leading to a contradiction of whether the cause of death was sharp force or blunt trauma related. For instance, a patient hospitalised after having had a car accident and died three weeks after hospitalization, having caught pneumonia would likely give the results that the patient died out of pneumonia. However, such is not the case. In the forensic autopsy, the cause of death should be categorised as blunt force trauma, categorically belonging to the cause “accident” (Prahlow, 2010). Therefore, because of the contradictions that occur in such autopsies, it is paramount to take note of the differences exhibited by blunt force trauma wounds and sharp force trauma injuries. Injuries caused by blunt force have the following characteristics. Firstly, blunt force inflicted wounds have abrasions on the skin epithelium. This arises as the result of the sliding force between the surface and the blunt objects, pressure or compression (Prahlow, 2010). Secondly, such injuries might show patterned abrasions, the phenomenon in which the wounds pattern is transferred to the intermediary between the skin and the blunt object, such as clothes. These forms of wounds can be used to identify weapons as the sources of blunt trauma injuries...
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...Forensic Pathology In the many months I’ve researched Forensic Pathology, I’ve found so many roads that I have to take in order to get there. I have been pursuing this dream since my freshmen year. I found so many interesting, shocking, and yet some upsetting things. I realized that not everything is positive when it comes to choosing your career. When actually seeing, physically what Forensic Pathology really is, you’ll be shocked about it. Since reading about it and actually doing the job, it’s so different it never crossed my mind that it would be so much work. There are many steps to becoming a Forensic Pathologist. The education for it takes many years, but yet it is possible. A forensic pathologist (which is known to most people as a medical examiner), is heavily involved in the criminal justice system and medical system. The medical examiner's main job is to conduct an autopsy on the victim of any unnatural form of death. Their primary task in potential criminal cases is to find the cause of death and confirm if it was homicidal, suicidal, or an accident. They perform autopsies, write out autopsy reports, look over victim's medical records, and interview the victim's next of kin. They also have to be trained in the legal system and to be able to testify in court cases involving death or injury (“Forensic Pathology,” 2009). Most forensic pathologist start as a resident, then after residency they awarded the title medical examiner. They can continue working to deputy...
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...closely with the patient’s other doctors and is a vital member of the patient’s primary health care team. Pathologists work in many areas of the medical laboratory and often serve as the Lab Director. Contrary to popular depictions of this career, the task of performing autopsies constitutes just a small part of the typical pathologist’s practice. A clinical pathologist oversees lab tests conducted on body fluids. For instance, together with clinical lab technologists, pathologists work to ensure that blood and blood products are safe. In microbiology, pathologists identify microorganisms that can cause infections – bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites – so that the most effective treatment can be selected for each particular case. An anatomic pathologist assists surgeons during operations by providing immediate diagnoses on biopsies (specially treated tissues removed in surgery and rushed to the lab). A forensic pathologist uses lab science to answer questions about evidence collected for criminal and civil cases. Other pathologists conduct research in pathology, developing new tests and new instruments to better diagnose diseases. Some pathologists devote their careers to research in pathology, developing new tests and new instruments to better diagnose diseases. Pathologists often teach their specialty to medical students and those preparing for other laboratory professions, including clinical lab technology and cytotechnology, among others. Pathologists are...
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...mission. Is to protect the health of Georgians through the proper licensing, physicians and certain members of the healing arts, even though the. Georgia Medical Examiners have a lot of work to do they have to make sure that they train their residency’s the correct way. Because they do have the rights to take away any professional licenses away if they don’t follow the rules and the requirements and the enforcements of the Medical laws. The Service that the Medical Examiner’s Perform. The Medical Examiner’s office of Georgia they provide a complete forensic pathology services to 153 of Georgia’s 159 counties in deaths which qualify as coroner cases under the Georgia. Death of Investigates Acts. The Chief Medical Examiner offers the State of Georgia oversees the GBI’S medical examiner (M.E) program and also establishes policies and guidelines for all Georgia coroners. They provide autopsies to the surrounding Georgia counties; their main headquarters is located in Decatur...
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...Laura Lynn Johnson Saleha Ashfaq Women Who Kill April 25, 2011 Divorce is not only a legal breakup of a marriage, but also the end of an emotional and intimate connection between two people. However, some do not accept their spouse’s unfaithfulness in such a courtly fashion. Laura Lynn Johnson was accused of murdering her attorney husband who wanted nothing but a simple divorce. But Laura did not want to let go of him so easily. Lloyd Johnson was rushed to the hospital on September 20, 2010; he was thought to be suffering from a severe heart attack. However, a heart attack did not explain what the police found on the scene of murder. Lloyd was confirmed dead on September 22, 2010. On September 20, help arrived to the Johnsons’ home after getting a call about a man who had trouble breathing and rectal bleeding. The Farmington Hills fire lieutenants recall walking upstairs through a clutter-filled-home and finding Lloyd Johnson sitting on the toilet, naked and unresponsive. They immediately noticed the bleeding wound on Lloyd’s lower back and assumed it to be the cause of his current critical condition. Lloyd was an obese, weighing over 430 pounds. It took more than five emergency workers to bring him down the stairs and into the ambulance. Initially, he was believed to be experiencing a heart attack. Lloyd Johnson, a respected attorney, a father of five, and a long time diabetic was well known around the community as both successful and arrogant. Lloyd Johnson referred...
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...Forensic Pathology and Miscarriages of Justice: a Journal Article Analysis Merlyn Arostegui Prof. Sigal CRJU 443 | Forensic Pathology and Miscarriages of Justice: a Journal Article Analysis The article chosen for analysis is titled “Forensic Pathology and the Miscarriage of Justice” written by Michael S. Pollanen of the Centre of Forensic Science and Medicine, University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada. The article was published in Forensic, Science, Medicine, and Pathology in 2012. The main purpose of the article was to present the fact that in order for the criminal justice system to operate in a safe and fair manner, any evidence presented in the duration of a prosecution must be accurate and objective—especially medical evidence. If either the accuracy or objectivity of evidence presented is compromised, there lies the possibility of unsafe prosecution which can lead to wrongful convictions or other forms of miscarriages of justice. Main Purpose There has been an increased awareness in the number of cases that have experienced a miscarriage of justice due to compromised medical evidence being presented during trial. Although there are legal tools available to regulate the types of evidence admissible in court as well as the “experts” allowed to present said evidence [such as Daubert hearings], these tools are only partially effective because forensic pathology is a discipline that grows and develops over time. The accepted view in pathology [or any field of science...
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...Autopsy Sabrina Sanchez April 27, 2015 Medicolegal Death Investigation Prof Rhinehart American Intercontinental University Autopsy is an examination of a person’s dead body. The word autopsy comes from the Greek autopsia meaning “the act of seeing for oneself.” The first real examinations for the study of disease was done about 300 BCE by the Alexandian physicians Heophilus and Erasistratus. The first forensics or legal autopsy was requested by a judge in Bologna in 1302. The examination is done to determine the cause of to identify or describe the level of disease that the person may have had, or define whether a specific medical or surgical treatment has been effective. This procedure is done by a trained medical personnel with a purpose of finding the cause of death with an assistance of autopsy technicians and autopsy photographers. The body is looked at from the outside and the inside, all tissue and organs are removed and looked at. Autopsy have legal implications and are performed to define if death was an accident, homicide, suicide, or a natural event. Autopsies are common medical practice but are mostly done when a crime was done. A medical examiner can order an autopsy without the say-so of the family member. Deaths that are investigated by the medical examiner are all suspicious deaths. In other cases consent must be obtained from a family member before an autopsy can be done. The family member also has the right to limit the things done in an autopsy, like not wanting...
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...is to conduct an autopsy on the victim of any unnatural form of death. Their primary task in potential criminal cases is to find the cause of death and confirm if it was homicidal, suicidal, or an accident. The cause of death is what police investigators use as their lead to track down potential suspects. Some work in local parts of government, hospitals, medicals schools, and in private practice which would contract their service to other government agencies. They perform autopsies, write out autopsy reports, look over victim's medical records, and interview the victim's next of kin. They also have to be trained in the legal system and to be able to testify in court cases involving death or injury (“Forensic Pathology,” 2009). Most forensic pathologist start as a resident, then after residency they awarded the title medical examiner. They can continue working to deputy chief medical examiner and the top position chief medical examiner. It takes between 13 to 15 years of education to become a forensic pathologist. This includes your bachelor degree and medical course requirements, followed by four years of medical school, and four years practicing forensic pathology as a resident. Once all of this is completed, you are required to accomplish a one year fellowship. The last and final step to be a certified forensic pathologist is to pass The American Board of Pathology. This is a very difficult exam with failure rates as high as 40 percent in anatomic pathology and 60 percent in...
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...WHAT IS POSTMARTEM? A post-martem also known as an autopsy this is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present. It is usually performed by a specialized medical doctor called a Pathalogist. MEANING OF POST-MORTEM. Post-mortem examination means an examination of a dead body which carries under the state law for the protection of the citizens of the state and for the identification and prosecution of the guilty. All general assessment in seen of occurrence is written in deceased report. Postamartem is not a conclusive evidence but it is corroborative type of evidence which is helpful in trial. PURPOSE The aims of death investigation are to answer the following questions: 1. Who died? (identification of the deceased) IDENTIFICATION OF DECEDENT The body of the deceased should be identified by the plice constable brought it or if necessary by the relatives in presence of the meical officer who should make a note of the names and addresses of such persons. 2. Where? (place of death) Place of death is also mentioned in the postmortem report which has the evidentiary value. A crime scene visit is worth undertaking, when scene exists. The medical officer should proceed with the examination only after the scene has been documented by photograph, diagram, or sketch, and the search for physical and trace evidence is concluded. 3...
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...What Happened to “King Tut?” There is no true explanation or clear reasoning on how King Tutankhamen died suddenly, approximately at the age of 18. Theorists have yet to come to any clear explanation on how he suddenly died. Two theories that make the most sense to me are that he died from some sort of sickness, such as malaria combined with a degenerative bone disease, which some studies suggest, or a broken leg, which later lead to infection, that has been discovered and recent autopsies. The theory revolving around malaria has been one of the the lasting reasoning’s on how he died, which was accelerated by a broken leg, recent studies suggest. Several mummies buried along with the remains of King Tut have been examined and 4 out of the 11, including King Tuts remains, showed strands of malaria. In fact, 4 of the 11 mummies, including King Tut’s, had genetic traces of malaria tropica, the most severe form of the infection. He was also plagued with avascular bone necrosis, a condition in which diminished blood supply to the bone leads to serious weakening or destruction of tissue. These two findings have deemed theorists to believe that these findings are a likely reason to his death. In recent studies, Ashraf Selim, a radiologist at Kasr Eleini Teaching Hospital at Cairo University in Egypt, along with a team of scientist set up a noninvasive CT scanner in Luxor to perform a full-body scan on the king's remains, obtaining about 1,900 digital cross-sectional images. The...
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...Danielle Johnson 06/28/2014 Writting Assignment 2 Thomas Edison State College AOJ-280-OL009 Case Study/ The Murder of Carolyn Casey Ynobe Matthews was Executed January 6, 2004 at 6:18 p.m in Texas by lethal injection for the 2000 rape and murder of a College student named Carolyn Casey. He was also charged with arson as a result of the fire he started at the crime scene. DNA, a post mortem examination, and fibers left at the crime scene all played a crucial role in solving this case. Though not acquainted, Ynobe Matthews and Carolyn Casey attended the same party that had been thrown by a Resident of the Apartment Complex they resided in. Carolyn Casey stated to a friend she was feeling unwell and left the party. In the early morning hours of May 28, Fire Fighters responded to a call at the Dou Chene Apartment Complex in College Station. Upon entering into the Unit they found the Victim. She deceased and slumped over the bed in a kneeling position, in addition, she was nude from the waist down. There where numerous items gathered from inside house that had been intentionally set ablaze after being placed between her legs. This was quickly identified as an attempt by the perpetrator to destroy evidence at the scene of a homicide. Homicide Detectives began interviewing everyone that had attended the party and asking them for DNA samples. Eventually, Ynobe Matthews was asked to had over certain articles of clothing he wore during the party. He was also asked...
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...Case Study Internal Final Case Briefing Introduction to Case As a medico-legal investigator I have been assigned the task to prepare and finalize the internal final case briefing for the Medical Examiner (ME). This final case briefing report will be attached to the case report and the autopsy report. The information obtained in this report will help determine the cause of death. This case involves the victim who has been identified as 23 year old Sharon Jane Miller (DOB 10/07/1987). The victim was found by her sister Valerie Edith Anderson (DOB 08/22/1985) on June 17, 2011. A 911 call was made via the sister and recorded at 1138 Evidence leans towards the murderer being ex-boyfriend Todd Nathan Hughes (DOB 02/14/1980. Discussion At 11:38 AM a phone call was made and recorded to 911 by sister, Valerie Anderson when she discovered her sister, Sharon Miller deceased at her apartment located at 16B East Locust Street, Virtual, MD. According to sister as well as corresponding text messages (made with consent) made between the victim and the sister they were going to attend lunch together for the day. When arrival to her home she discovered her sisters body and proceeded to call the authorities. Further information was given by sister, Valerie Anderson that the deceased had disclosed that she had broken up with her boyfriend Todd Hughes whom she had been dating for four years. It was made known that Todd was an abusive boyfriend and had an extensive criminal record...
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...FAKE ENCOUNTERS IN INDIA Aastha Maheswari 1) Distinguish between fake encounters and genuine encounters? Ans: A fake encounter is where a person has been killed in cold blood, and not in self-defence, Whereas a genuine encounter is that in which a person has been killed in self-defence. If somebody is firing at you, and the only way to stop him from killing or grievously injuring you is to shoot back, in that case you’re a part of a genuine encounter. Whereas a fake encounter is when you catch hold of somebody and kill him in cold blood. There is absoutely no threat to you. The Central and State governments generally interpret the word, encounter, to mean genuine encounters, with fake encounters being an exception rather than the rule. Those fighting for civil liberties, however, say that the dividing line between genuine and fake encounters is rather tenuous and argued that most of the cases considered by the police as genuine are indeed fake. 2) Does the police have the right to kill the suspects? Why do they resort to take such extreme measures? Ans: The Indian law recognizes the right of a citizen to private defence , and this same right is available to the policemen too. Thus, If the police is firing in an attempt to arrest a person accused of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment of life by the court orders, in that case the encounter cannot be termed as illegal or fake. However, if a death is caused in an ecounter that cannot be justified on the ground of...
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...Danielle Johnson 06/28/2014 Writting Assignment 2 Thomas Edison State College AOJ-280-OL009 Case Study/ The Murder of Carolyn Casey Ynobe Matthews was Executed January 6, 2004 at 6:18 p.m in Texas by lethal injection for the 2000 rape and murder of a College student named Carolyn Casey. He was also charged with arson as a result of the fire he started at the crime scene. DNA, a post mortem examination, and fibers left at the crime scene all played a crucial role in solving this case. Though not aquainted, Ynobe Matthews and Carolyn Casey attended the same party that had been thrown by a Resident of the Apartment Complex they resided in. Carolyn Casey stated to a friend she was feeling unwell and left the party. In the early morning hours of May 28, Fire Fighters responded to a call at the Dou Chene Apartment Complex in College Station. Upon entering into the Unit they found the Victim. She deceased and slumped over the bed in a kneeling position, in additon, she was nude from the waist down. There where numerous items gathered from inside house that had been intentionally set abalze after being placed between her legs. This was quickly identified as an attempt by the perpetrator to destroy evidence at the scene of a homicide. Homicide Detectives began interviewing everyone that had attended the party and asking them for DNA samples. Eventually, Ynobe Matthews was asked to had over certain articles of clothing he wore during the party. He was also asked to give...
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