Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Missliwetz.
In January 1990 amnesty international stated a report concerning 128 cases of alleged torture by the police in Austria since december 1984. Our material consists of 31 cases, three case reports are given in detail. Problems of medical expertise are discussed. It may be difficult to rule out injuries which are caused by accident or self inflicted. Some methods of torture (certain kinds of asphyxia for example) may be impossible to trace.
In a case of shotgun-injury of the heart with complete rupture of both ventricles and lesion of the aorta the victim was able to move a few metres in approximately six seconds. Despite other opinions ability to move or act can be maintained in cases of severest injuries of the heart caused by missiles with high energy.
Hand firearms and blank-cartridge arms may not only be used to fire cartridges, but also as blunt-edged tools. When used for striking the human body, they produce corresponding injuries (abrasions, hematomata, lacerations, fractures). The blows are preferably to the victim's head. The hands may show characteristic protective wounds. Impact of the pistol grip (or butt of the revolver) may cause typically shaped skin lesions and depressed fractures. Three cases of homicide are presented in order to show and discuss the morphological features of such injury patterns.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Premeditated murder of adults by drowning is rare and hard to investigate. Six cases are reported. If the aim of the killer is homicide by drowning to begin with (primary drowning), it is usually difficult to prove as morphological findings are missing of may be insignificant and ambiguous. If, on the other hand, the killer opts for drowning only as a conclusion to a primarily differently planned assault (e.g. strangling), the finding patterns are different, and their interpretation is usually easier (secondary drowning).
Report on many cases of murder (the indictment included 41 cases) in the Clinical Centre of Lainz in Vienna. Two of the accused nurses were sentenced to life imprisonment, the other two to 15 and 12 years respectively. The operating modes are presented: intravenous administration of flunitrazepam, so called "oral hygiene", which proved to be forced aspiration of water, and injection of insulin. Possibilities of preventive measures against murder in hospital are discussed.
13 electric shock weapons were investigated. The authors measured the electrical output and observed the effects on corpses and test persons. The electric shock weapons produced only moderate pain and did not stop the disposing capacity. The electrocardiogram and the circulation parameters were not influenced. The electric shock weapons tested might have only a limited deterrent effect and might be able to cause fatal complications under circumstances. Drug use and heart disease might enhance the risk.