Chapter 15: Forensic Autopsy and Medical Legal Reporting

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes for exam preparation.

Medicolegal Autopsy

An autopsy conducted in the medicolegal system governed by statue.

Purpose of Medicolegal Autopsy

The purpose extends beyond establishing the cause of death, focusing on manner, mechanism, identification, time of death, evidence handling, and injury recognition.

Basic Medicolegal Autopsy Report

Emphasis is placed on formulating an opinion as to cause, manner, and mechanism of death.

Preliminary Investigation Information

A detailed account of the circumstances surrounding the death and the scene where the body was found.

External Examination

The most important item in a medicolegal postmortem examination where the manner and mechanism of death are frequently answered.

External Examination Photography

Photographs documenting the body's condition upon arrival, including close-ups of relevant particulars.

Clothing Removal Protocol

Removing clothes carefully, preferably on a sheet, to preserve trace evidence.

Chain of Custody

Maintaining a record of the custody of evidence from collection to analysis.

Body Surface Examination

Examination and recording of all injuries on the body surface.

Wound Preparation

Cleaning, shaving, and photographing wounds in hairy areas.

External Examination Documentation

Documentation of rigor and livor mortis, postmortem decomposition, types and patterns of injuries.

Decedent Characteristics

Age, race, sex, length, weight, nourishment, and congenital abnormalities of the deceased.

Eye Examination

The degree of corneal clouding; examination of conjunctivae for hemorrhages or petechiae.

Identification Details

Hair and eye color, moles, tattoos, and scars on the body.

Identification Procedures

Fingerprints and postmortem dental charts.

Genitalia Examination

Examination and description of external genitalia with collection of specimens if sexual assault is suspected.

Sexual Assault Specimens

Vaginal, oral, and rectal specimens in females; oral and rectal specimens in males.

Specimen Analysis

Blood typing, and DNA testing

Postmortem Semen Expulsion

The phenomenon (more common in asphyxia deaths) of males postmortem expulsion of semen.

Sexual Assault Evidence Collection

Pubic hair and fingernail scrapings.

Ligature Mark Documentation

Photographed Ligature and binding marks.

Noose Removal

Cutting the item without damaging the knot

Injury Location

Parameters to accurately locate injury to body, number of inches from landmarks.

Bullet Wound Characteristics

Marginal abrasion, soot, and gunpowder.

O’clock System

The best system to articulate marginal abrasion is the

Recorded Stippling

Diameter of stippling should be

Description of Type of Projectile

Lead, jacketed, non-jacketed, hollow point and caliber, if known

Condition of Projectile

Intact, deformed, fragmented

Multiple Gunshot Wounds

Advisable to number each wound in cases of

Bullet Photography

Photograph each recovered bullet

Stab Wounds

Injury in the skin should be measured and recorded in the report and adjust the wound edges to the lines of cleavage of the skin.

Internal Examination

Report does not materially differ form that of a regular hospital report

Opinion

Opinion, medicolegal report of postmortem examination should be concluded with a well-rounded

Medicolegal Opinion

Relates the cause and manner of death, based not only on the results of the postmortem examination and laboratory analyses, but all pertinent information needs to be collected in the case

Comprehensive Summary

Should provide answers to certain anticipated questions

Conscious Pain and Suffering

Has become a very prominent issue in a majority of wrongful death lawsuits

Evidence of Conciousness

Requires evidence of consciousness at least for a time preceding death

Pain

Physical pain from injuries

Suffering

The mental anguish, such as from fear of doom, fear of death

Brain Survival

The brain survives up to 10 seconds after total oxygen deprivation

Fructures of the Skull

Fractures of the skull result in loss of consciousness in more than 95% of cases

Drug Delivery Resulting Death

Defendants are being held criminally liable if a death occurs as a result of a person providing a substance that is perceived to have killed the decedent

Clothing Collection

Collection of clothing items from the body while preserving trace evidence.

Injury Documentation

Descriptive and detailed documentation of all injuries found during the examination.

Gunshot Wound Description

Describing bullet wound entry with mention of marginal abrasion, soot, and gunpowder.

Stab Wound Measurement

Measuring and recording stab wounds on the skin, adjusting edges to skin lines.

Penetration Stab Wounds

Pathologist should proceed to describe how many actual penetrate the body.

Conclusion of Autopsy Report

The only part of the report to be sure read by anyone with interest in the case.

Infants in crib deaths

Collect specimens even in the case of

Opinion is Concised and factual

opinion