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Documentation of Stab Wounds and Injuries

Measurement Techniques for Stab Wounds and Bullet Holes

  • Measuring from Landmarks:

    • Always measure from a defined body landmark to the center of each stab wound or bullet hole.
    • Crucial for cases with multiple irregular wounds, as the distances must be precise and accurate.

  • Dealing with Body Curvature:

    • If measurements involve curvatures of the body, this should be clearly stated in the descriptions.
    • A lack of clarity may lead to misinterpretation, e.g., a wound described as "12 cm to the left of the front midline of the face" may be misconstrued as being far from where it actually is (e.g., it should be stated as "5 cm in front of the ear canal").

  • Avoiding Measurement Errors:

    • Do not specify one injury and reference another by distance to prevent cumulative measurement errors.
    • Exceptions are noted for injuries that are obviously paired (like a carving fork) or grouped (like a dinner fork).

  • Recording Single Injuries:

    • Do not separate or disperse parts of a single injury in the notes.
    • If external examination must occur before internal examination, note it with "Subsequent examination of…" to maintain narrative coherence.

  • Describing Encircling Marks:

    • When describing marks that encircle or partially encircle areas such as wrists or necks, start with a clear point.
    • Use phrasing like "For descriptive purposes, the marking commences at a point…" and continue until returning to the starting point.

  • Abbreviations:

    • Use national or internationally accepted abbreviations.
    • Common errors include using 'cc' for fluid volumes; instead, 'ml' is the correct measurement as fluids are quantified in liters instead of cubic centimeters.
    • These minor errors can be scrutinized by consultants and may be pointed out during the legal process.

  • Clarifying Misinterpretations:

    • In cases like misidentified birthmarks as bruises, clearly note findings that substantiate injuries: e.g., "Not found - evidence of injury to the face" or "Incidental findings - birthmark ('port wine' stain) on face."

  • Effective Note-Taking:

    • Utilize effective forms and a notation system to include arrows and lines with clock face numbers at each end to enhance readability of notes during depositions or courtroom testimonies.

Types of Injuries

  • Blunt Injuries:

    • Includes injuries incurred without cutting the skin, such as bruises or abrasions.

  • Sharp Injuries:

    • Refers to injuries that are inflicted by sharp objects leading to cuts or lacerations.

  • Differentiation of Injury Types:

    • Important to accurately differentiate between blunt and sharp injuries for medical and legal documentation.