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PubMed1998

Developing medicolegal death investigator systems in forensic pathology.

As a result of recent national events involving high-profile murder cases, medicolegal death investigation has begun to slowly receive the attention it deserves. Despite continued local problems of financial support and political control, the development of regionalized centers of forensic excellence is gradually improving the access of rural and suburban areas to high-quality forensic science services. Recent efforts to improve the quality of lay death investigators through hiring practices, training, and certification promises to eventually provide more professionally qualified and experienced death investigators.

Coroners and Medical Examiners↗
PubMed2001

The forensic pathology of nonagenarians and centenarians: do they die of old age? (The Auckland experience).

The aim of this study is to provide awareness of the common causes of death and their associated trends in the very aged. Forensic autopsies on patients aged >90 years were reviewed. The study lasted from January 1, 1988 to December 11, 1998 and was done in Auckland, New Zealand, the population of which is 1.3 million. Cases were divided into natural or unnatural deaths. Of the total of 319 cases, 272 (85%) deaths were natural. Of those, only 13 (5%) were "written off" as being attributed to old age or senile debility. The most common causes of death were ischemic heart disease (IHD), 74 cases (23%); bronchopneumonia, 37 cases (12%); fractures, 28 cases (9%); acute myocardial infarction, 25 cases (8%); cerebrovascular accident, 19 cases (6%); and ruptured aneurysm, 17 cases (5%); 61 (19%) deaths were multifactorial. Fractures, either as the primary cause of death or as a complicating factor, accounted for 29 cases, third only to IHD and bronchopneumonia. Forty-seven deaths (15%) were unnatural; of those, 43 were accidents, 3 were suicides, and 1 was a homicide. From these results it is clear that the very elderly succumb to disease; they do not often die of old age.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Postmortem bacteriology in forensic pathology: diagnostic value and interpretation.

The proof of a pathogenetic germ can be of evidential value for the medico-legal expertise concerning etiopathogenetic conclusions towards a causal relationship between infection and fatal outcome. In specific cases the forensic pathologist may be confronted with the decision whether cultures for postmortem bacteriological investigations should be obtained at autopsy. The present review surveys the value and practicability of postmortem bacteriological cultures in the light of the literature. The most promising media for postmortem bacteriological cultures are spleen and heart blood. In contrast, postmortem lung culture results are often unreliable due to frequently false positive results. The collection of specimens from at least two different sampling sites should be the standard procedure in cases where an underlying (potentially fatal) infection is presumed. Multiple postmortem cultures from different sampling sites raise the probability to identify the etiologic agent of antemortem infection. A careful correlation of culture results from different anatomical sampling sites with autopsy and histological findings is essential for the differentiation between vitally acquired infection and postmortem contamination. Various factors (e.g. the time interval between death and sampling of specimens, agonal spread of microorganisms or preceding antibiotic therapy prior to death) may limit the diagnostic utility of postmortem culture results. Contamination of specimens may, e.g. originate from inadequate sampling techniques, use of unsuitable transport media or postmortem growth of bacteria. The number of contaminated postmortem cultures increases when bowel manipulation or evisceration occurs prior to sampling and is depending on the anatomy of the sampling site. Polymicrobial growth can be considered contamination in the majority of cases. For the medico-legal expertise a thorough histological examination of inner organs and tissues is needed; the histological section has to represent the sampling site for culture. The presence of an underlying infection can be proven when postmortem bacteriological cultures yield a primary infectious pathogen and a cellular response in the affected tissue can be detected on the histopathological level. Postmortem bacteriology can be regarded as a reliable diagnostic tool for postmortem quality control of preceding diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and can serve as an additional indicator of nosocomial infections within a specific hospital environment. From the medico-legal point of view, a more widespread application of this valuable investigative procedure, that adds to diminish the number of otherwise unresolved deaths in forensic autopsy practice, is desirable.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of sudden death in psychiatric patients with special reference to phenothiazine therapy: forensic pathology.

The investigation of sudden unexpected death in psychiatric patients and the ensuing litigation has brought to our attention many unusual features important in the evaluation of such deaths. Certain pathophysiologic mechanisms of death, rarely encountered in routine forensic science practice, may be important in determining the cause of death in psychiatric patients, especially in cases where the autopsy is unrevealing. Of particular concern is a tendency in the current literature to implicate phenothiazines as a cause of death when the death investigation and the autopsies are incomplete. Thus, based on our experience and on a review of the current literature, we have set forth factors that the forensic pathologist should consider when faced with a sudden psychiatric death. A case report illustrates these unique aspects of scene investigation and analysis of terminal events and autopsy findings.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Forensic pathology. Pulmonary disease.

Certain conditions in cases with pulmonary pathology such as thrombosis and embolism, pregnancy, asthma, drug abuse, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and occupational exposures are particularly likely to come under critical scrutiny and may form the basis of allegations of medical negligence, wrongful death or product liability. Pathologists may play an important role in the resolution of these legal claims through the proper performance, interpretation and reporting of their examinations. Pathologists can also assist in the legal process by explaining pathologic findings and their significance, correlating them with the clinical course and addressing issues of causation.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Sudden infant death in Stockholm. A forensic pathology study covering ten years.

During a ten year period, March 1976-February 1986, 83 non-selected consecutive cases of sudden unexpected death in infants, between one week and one year of age, were examined at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Stockholm. Forty-three deaths (52%) were classified as typical or possible cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), 35 (42%) as non-violent non-SIDS cases and 5 (6%) as non-natural deaths. Cardiovascular disease, including myocarditis, was found in 21 (25%) instances, infections with inflammatory manifestations in various organs outside the heart in 12 (14%) and miscellaneous, non-violent causes of death in 2 (2%) cases. The male:female ratio was 1.15:1 for SIDS and 1.30:1 for non-SIDS cases. A peak of incidence was found for SIDS cases in infants between two and four months of age, while non-SIDS victims tended to be somewhat older. Ninety-five percent of the SIDS fatalities occurred during the winter months (October-April) as compared to 71% of the non-SIDS cases. Outdoor temperature below the annual mean of 5.9 degrees C in combination with a sudden decrease in temperature was associated with sudden deaths, particularly SIDS. Thirty-three percent of the SIDS victims died in their cribs compared to 51% of the non-SIDS cases. Corresponding figures for deaths outdoors in a pram were 33% and 11%, respectively. Fourteen percent of the infants in both groups died while in bed with one of the parents. Ninety-five percent of the SIDS victims were previously healthy, but in 9% one or more periods of abnormal breathing had been noted. The corresponding figures for non-SIDS were 70% and 3%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Female↗