autopsy/postmortem

week 4 stibs

post mortem

• external and internal examination of a deceased body to establish cause of death

types of post mortem exams

1. hospital consented post mortem

   • known cause of death, consent signed by NOK

2. coronial post mortem

   • coroner, independent judicial officer, investigate sudden deaths

3. forensic post mortem

   • death occurred in suspicious circumstances

   • police

   • home office pathologist

deaths reported to coroner

• not seen dr

• suspicious circumstances

• history of violence

• road traffic accident

external examination

• measurements: height, weight

• external scars

• IV lines

• injection sites

• hypostasis

• photos

evisceration

• rokitanski method

  • all organs removed attached to aorta in 1 block

• en bloc method:

  1. heart and lungs

  2. liver, stomach, spleen, kidneys, adrenals

  3. bladder and reproductive organs

toxicology

• suspected use of drugs: prescribed, non prescribed

• suspected alcohol, drug abuse

• poisoning

DNA

• cheek swab

• blood

• bone marrow

• dentyne

forensic samples

• swabs

• tapings

• hair samples

• clothing