FORENSIC MEDICINE AND HUMAN IDENTIFICATION

MEDICOLEGAL CASES

inaccurate identification are rampant, be it by accident or intentional

DEATH CASES

disfigurement due to trauma

• to contact family and allow for the grieving process

• accurate documentation of death

• permits the decedent’s financial and legal status to be addressed

• upon establishment of positive identification: improvement of death investigation

PURPOSES OF IDENTIFICATION

HUMAN VS NON HUMAN

start of human identification is establishing whether the body is human or not

HUMAN VS NON HUMAN

can be obvious or more difficult and complex

Forensic Anthropologist

expert in identifying species

DNA ANALYSIS

If anthropologists and radiographic methods fail to differentiate species, _______ is utilized

hTERT or human telomerase gene on chromosome 5

A human specific gene that is seen on the dna analysis

VISUAL

FINGERPRINT

DNA

DENTAL

WAYS TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY

ESTABLISHING IDENTITY

Although databases for DNA and fingerprint exist, data gathered is USELESS without a comparison sample

Dental Identification

not possible without antemortem records

VISUAL IDENTIFICATION

most commonly used method for identification

VISUAL IDENTIFICATION

used to establish both positive and presumptive identification

POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION

definite without a shallow of a doubt

PRESUMPTIVE IDENTIFICATION

in cases of automobile accidents or a witnessed collapse, and a family member or friend claims the identity of the decedent “this is xxx xxx”

PRESUMPTIVE IDENTIFICATION

comparison of a deceased to a photograph

DECOMPOSITION OF THE BODY

TRAUMATIC INJURIES THAT DISTORT THE FEATURES

DIFFICULTY OF VISUAL IDENTIFICATION

VISUAL IDENTIFICATION

one of the least reliable forms of identification

CIRCUMSTANTIAL

can often assist in identifying a person

LOCATION OF DEATH

ITEMS AT A DEATH SCENE

CLOTHING SIZE, JEWELRY

PERSONAL EFFECTS WITH THE BODY

EYEGLASSES

These assists in identifying a person:

• body habitus, physique, height, and weight, eye color, sex, circumcision, hair type, skin pigmentation

• scars and tattoos

• piercing

• subungual hematomas in dancers and athletes

• oncholysis in occupations requirements carrying of heavy objects, musicians and typists

• inflammation around fingernails and hairdressers and gardeners

• Blue scars in coal miners

EXTERNAL CHARACTERISTICS

• previously diagnosed cholelithiasis and nephrolithiasis

• cancer or coronary artery disease

• absence of organs

• implanted device like pacemakers or defibrillators

• inhalation diseases like silicosis or defibrillators

INTERNAL CHARACTERISTICS

EXTERNAL CHARACTERISTICS

Many people have characteristic unique enough to establish identity

INTERNAL CHARACTERISTICS

presence or absence of disease can be helpful in establishing an identity

AUTOPSY

done on unidentified bodies, required by law in some jurisdiction

TOXICOLOGY EVALUATION

presence of medications or illicit chemicals

RADIOGRAPHS

can be utilized when ante mortem records are available for comparison

• varus/valgus deformity of long bones

• broken bone resulting in malunion

Radiographs helps in identifying characteristics:

RADIOGRAPHS

foreign materials can be checked

BULLET

SHRAPNEL

SURGICAL HARDWARES

Foreign materials that can be checked in the radiographs:

RADIOGRAPHS

presence or absence of growth plates or extent of osteophyte formation

ANTHROPOLOGY

most commonly used in cases of decomposed skeletal remains

SEX

RACE

ANCESTRY

STATURE

Anthropology techniques used can indicate:

ANTHROPOLOGY

methodology that we follow when we identify an unidentified body

PELVIS

Best indicator of sex

FPELVIS

wider and shallower with obtuse sub-pubic angle & an oval inlet

PELVIS

Designed for carrying a baby

CRANIUM

If pelvis is not present

MALES

receding forehead, prominent brow ridges and occipital protuberance, large mastoid process

PERSONS UNDER 30

presence of growth plate

• osteophyte formation

• calcification of cartilaginous margins of ribs

• wearing of symphysis pubis, fusion of cranial sutures

AGE CHANGE

NEGROIDS

CAUCASOIDS

MONGOLOID

RACE CLASSIFICATION

NEGROIDS

crania: wide nasal orifices, round, oval orbits, and alveolar prognathism

CAUCASOIDS

crania: narrow nasal orifices, parabolic palate, rectangular orbits

MONGOLOID

elliptical palates, complex cranial sutures, and square orbits

FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION

can be done when the cranium is present

anthropology + facial reconstruction

Does not give positive identification

Anthro + FR + DNA testing

Gives positive identification

Positive identification

It is CRUCIAL in establishing presumptive identification

• EXTENSIVE PHOTOGRAPHY

• DECEASED INDIVIDUALS: FULL AUTOPSY

• FULL BODY RADIOGRAPHS

• FINGERPRINTING, DENTAL CHARTING, HARVESTING DNA SAMPLE

METHODS FOR AN UNIDENTIFIED PERSON/BODY

EXTENSIVE PHOTOGRAPHY

all distinguishing characteristics and personal properties

DECEASED INDIVIDUALS: FULL AUTOPSY

Thorough documentation of all disease processes

DECEASED INDIVIDUALS: FULL AUTOPSY

Presence or absence of organs and tissues

DECEASED INDIVIDUALS: FULL AUTOPSY

Organ weights

DECEASED INDIVIDUALS: FULL AUTOPSY

Detailed and accurate descriptions of all (+) and (-) findings