Forensic Science Death Investigation The Medical Examiner System and the Role of the Forensic...

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Forensic Science Forensic Science Death Investigation Death Investigation The Medical Examiner System The Medical Examiner System and the Role of the and the Role of the Forensic Pathologist Forensic Pathologist

Transcript of Forensic Science Death Investigation The Medical Examiner System and the Role of the Forensic...

Page 1: Forensic Science Death Investigation The Medical Examiner System and the Role of the Forensic Pathologist.

Forensic Science Forensic Science Death InvestigationDeath Investigation

The Medical Examiner System and The Medical Examiner System and the Role of the Forensic the Role of the Forensic PathologistPathologist

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Lecture OutlineLecture Outline

Forensic PathologyForensic Pathology Determining Cause of DeathDetermining Cause of Death Determining Manner of DeathDetermining Manner of Death The Medical Examiner SystemThe Medical Examiner System

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Forensic PathologistsForensic Pathologists

Investigate the sudden and unexpected Investigate the sudden and unexpected deaths of persons who are in apparent deaths of persons who are in apparent good health good health

Investigate deaths suspected to be Investigate deaths suspected to be traumatictraumatic

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Forensic PathologistsForensic Pathologists

Perform autopsies and diagnose Perform autopsies and diagnose circumstances surrounding the circumstances surrounding the cause and cause and manner of deathmanner of death

Determine whether death wasDetermine whether death wasAccidentalAccidentalSuicidalSuicidalHomicidalHomicidalNaturalNatural

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Cause and Mechanism of DeathCause and Mechanism of Death

Cause of death- a disease or injury that Cause of death- a disease or injury that initiated the lethal chain of events that initiated the lethal chain of events that led to death of the personled to death of the person

Mechanism of death- a biochemical or Mechanism of death- a biochemical or physiologic abnormality produced by physiologic abnormality produced by the cause of death that is incompatible the cause of death that is incompatible with lifewith life

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Manner of DeathManner of Death

defined as the fashion in which the defined as the fashion in which the cause of death came to because of death came to be Four manners of death:Four manners of death:

NaturalNatural AccidentalAccidental SuicidalSuicidal HomicidalHomicidal

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Time of DeathTime of Death

Three methods used to estimate time Three methods used to estimate time of deathof death

Rigor Mortis Rigor Mortis

Livor MortisLivor Mortis

Algor MortisAlgor Mortis

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Time of DeathTime of Death Rigor Mortis- stiffening of muscles which Rigor Mortis- stiffening of muscles which

occurs following death:occurs following death: Glycogen, normally used to provide energy Glycogen, normally used to provide energy

for contraction muscles, is used up and not for contraction muscles, is used up and not reformedreformed

Rigor Mortis normally sets in about 4 hours Rigor Mortis normally sets in about 4 hours after deathafter death

Exceptions include instant rigor mortis and Exceptions include instant rigor mortis and death from electric shock - both create death from electric shock - both create shorter onset of rigor mortis from time of shorter onset of rigor mortis from time of deathdeath

Rigor Mortis generally disappears 24-48 Rigor Mortis generally disappears 24-48 hours after death due to decomposition hours after death due to decomposition

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Rigor Mortis and Time of DeathRigor Mortis and Time of Death

Manner of Death Manner of Death is suicide. is suicide.

The shotgun The shotgun has been has been removed but his removed but his arms are locked arms are locked in place.in place.

How long has he How long has he been dead?been dead?

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Time of DeathTime of Death Livor Mortis- discoloration of body from Livor Mortis- discoloration of body from

settling of red blood cells after blood stops settling of red blood cells after blood stops circulating, aka circulating, aka lividitylividity In light skinned individuals, lividity may be seen In light skinned individuals, lividity may be seen

within an hour after deathwithin an hour after death In dark skinned individuals, lividity may not be In dark skinned individuals, lividity may not be

able to be seenable to be seen Substantial blood loss may result in little lividitySubstantial blood loss may result in little lividity Lividity becomes fixed about 12 hours after death, Lividity becomes fixed about 12 hours after death,

and slowly disappears with decomposition after and slowly disappears with decomposition after 36 hours36 hours

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Livor mortis or LividityLivor mortis or Lividity

Post-mortem lividityPost-mortem lividity Shows on the Shows on the

soles of the feet soles of the feet Manner of Death: Manner of Death:

Suicide by Suicide by hanginghanging

Gravity caused Gravity caused red blood cells to red blood cells to accumulate in the accumulate in the feetfeet

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Time of DeathTime of Death

Algor Mortis- cooling of the body after Algor Mortis- cooling of the body after death, and assumes ambient death, and assumes ambient temperature is lower than body temperature is lower than body temperaturetemperature

General rule of thumb- a nearly nude General rule of thumb- a nearly nude body exposed to 18-20 degrees Celsius body exposed to 18-20 degrees Celsius loses 1.5 degrees per hour for the first loses 1.5 degrees per hour for the first 8 hours8 hours

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History of the Coroner SystemHistory of the Coroner System

Officer of coroner existed in England Officer of coroner existed in England before the 10before the 10thth century century

Coroner interpreted as “crowner of the Coroner interpreted as “crowner of the king” and assumed a judicial functionking” and assumed a judicial function

Acted as an inquisitional judge Acted as an inquisitional judge responsible for investigating, responsible for investigating, interviewing and making judgments in interviewing and making judgments in the cause of deaththe cause of death

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Coroners in the United StatesCoroners in the United States There is no provision in the US There is no provision in the US

constitution for death investigationconstitution for death investigation Cities and States often elected Cities and States often elected

coroners to determine cause of death coroners to determine cause of death whose backgrounds varied widelywhose backgrounds varied widely

The first Federal Medical Examiner’s The first Federal Medical Examiner’s Office was in the Armed Forces Office was in the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in the 1990sInstitute of Pathology in the 1990s

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Medical Examiner SystemMedical Examiner System

In latter part of 19In latter part of 19thth century standards century standards were developed for medical examinerswere developed for medical examiners

Massachusetts replaced coroners with Massachusetts replaced coroners with medical examiners in 1877medical examiners in 1877

Required medical examiners to be Required medical examiners to be licensed medical practitionerslicensed medical practitioners

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Medical Examiner SystemMedical Examiner System

So while there has been a move So while there has been a move toward standardization:toward standardization: Many rural areas are still served by Many rural areas are still served by

elected coronerselected coroners Some states still have both coroners Some states still have both coroners

and medical examinersand medical examiners Therefore confusion still existsTherefore confusion still exists

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Education and Training of Education and Training of Forensic PathologistsForensic Pathologists

Pathologists first began appearing in Pathologists first began appearing in mid 19mid 19thth century century Police and Coroners relied on Pathologists Police and Coroners relied on Pathologists

to perform autopsies and determine cause to perform autopsies and determine cause of deathof death

Used microscopes to examine tissues for Used microscopes to examine tissues for injury or diseaseinjury or disease

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The Study of PathologyThe Study of Pathology

Pathology is derived from:Pathology is derived from: Pathos- suffering or diseasePathos- suffering or disease Logos- word or writingLogos- word or writing Study of disease, its causes and its Study of disease, its causes and its

diagnosisdiagnosis

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Education and Training of Education and Training of Forensic PathologistsForensic Pathologists Pathologists later began to manage Pathologists later began to manage

laboratories where blood and urine laboratories where blood and urine were testedwere tested

Mid 20Mid 20thth century pathologists were century pathologists were specialized as a fieldspecialized as a field

End of World War II, forensic pathology End of World War II, forensic pathology was recognized by the American Board was recognized by the American Board of Pathologistsof Pathologists

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Training Requirements for a Training Requirements for a Forensic PathologistForensic Pathologist

Bachelor degree or equivalent, 4 yearsBachelor degree or equivalent, 4 years

Medical school, 4 years in length, and Medical school, 4 years in length, and graduation from a recognized graduation from a recognized allopathic (M.D.) or osteopathic (D.O) allopathic (M.D.) or osteopathic (D.O) granting medical schoolgranting medical school

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Training Requirements for a Training Requirements for a Forensic PathologistForensic Pathologist Postgraduate training for 4 additional Postgraduate training for 4 additional

years: combination of anatomic years: combination of anatomic pathology or anatomic and clinical pathology or anatomic and clinical pathologypathology

One additional year of training at a One additional year of training at a large coroner’s or medical examiner’s large coroner’s or medical examiner’s office required: Intern normally office required: Intern normally receives payreceives pay

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Training Requirements for a Training Requirements for a Forensic PathologistForensic Pathologist

After candidate completes 5 years of After candidate completes 5 years of postgraduate training, it is necessary to postgraduate training, it is necessary to pass a 2-4 day examination to become a pass a 2-4 day examination to become a board certified forensic pathologistboard certified forensic pathologist

There are an estimated 500 forensic There are an estimated 500 forensic pathologists practicing in the United pathologists practicing in the United StatesStates

About 25 pathologists have both medical About 25 pathologists have both medical and legal degreesand legal degrees

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Training Requirements for a Training Requirements for a Forensic PathologistForensic Pathologist

Many forensic pathologists also specialize Many forensic pathologists also specialize in additional areas:in additional areas: ToxicologyToxicology SerologySerology Tool mark or Impression evidenceTool mark or Impression evidence Firearms examinationFirearms examination Crime scene analysisCrime scene analysis Forensic AnthropologyForensic Anthropology Forensic OdontologyForensic Odontology

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Duties of Forensic PathologistsDuties of Forensic Pathologists

Investigate the deaths of persons Investigate the deaths of persons who die suddenly and unexpectedly who die suddenly and unexpectedly or as a result of injuryor as a result of injury

Normally employed by cities, Normally employed by cities, counties or division of governmentcounties or division of government

Some forensic pathologists work as Some forensic pathologists work as consultants in litigationconsultants in litigation

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Reviewing Medical HistoryReviewing Medical History

Forensic pathologists deal primarily Forensic pathologists deal primarily with determining cause of death, but with determining cause of death, but also review past medical history to also review past medical history to understand issues raised by that deathunderstand issues raised by that death

Medical history is the starting point of Medical history is the starting point of investigationinvestigation

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Reviewing Medical HistoryReviewing Medical History

To certify cause of death, forensic To certify cause of death, forensic pathologists must:pathologists must: Be able to discern injuries from Be able to discern injuries from

treatment from emergency personnel treatment from emergency personnel - needle marks, incised wounds, etc- needle marks, incised wounds, etc

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Autopsy ExaminationAutopsy Examination

Autopsy means to look at oneselfAutopsy means to look at oneself Necropsy means to look at the deadNecropsy means to look at the dead Autopsies have been practiced since Autopsies have been practiced since

the middle agesthe middle ages Term autopsy generally used in United Term autopsy generally used in United

StatesStates

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TestimonyTestimony

Forensic pathologists either give Forensic pathologists either give testimony via subpoena for civil cases, testimony via subpoena for civil cases, or via their presence in court for or via their presence in court for criminal casecriminal case

Forensic pathologists also testify as Forensic pathologists also testify as expert witnesses in cases where they expert witnesses in cases where they did not examine body of deceaseddid not examine body of deceased

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ProblemsProblemsAutopsy Demonstration: Autopsy Demonstration:

www.hbo.com/autopsy/interactive/index.htm

1.1. Describe how rigor mortis occurs. Describe how rigor mortis occurs.

2.2. Describe how rigor mortis helps determine time of death.Describe how rigor mortis helps determine time of death.

3.3. Describe lividity and how it is used to determine time of Describe lividity and how it is used to determine time of death.death.

4.4. A victim dies of a heart attack after being shot in the chest. A victim dies of a heart attack after being shot in the chest. Describe the cause and manner of death.Describe the cause and manner of death.

5.5. Get with a partner and construct a scenario in which the Get with a partner and construct a scenario in which the others will determine cause and manner of death and time others will determine cause and manner of death and time of death.of death.