Forensics

Front 1

What are the four questions which must be answered by a Coroner's Inquest?

Back 1

1) Who is the deceased? (may be difficult if face is missing)
2) What is the medical cause of death? (may indicated malpractice or medical negligence and prompt a lawsuit)
3) Where did they die? (may indicate the body was moved/tampered with/disrespected)
4) In what environment did they die? (may reveal suicide or "undignified accidental death")

Front 2

List the types of death which should be reported to the coroner. (15 on the list)

Back 2

1) not due to natural causes
2) not seen and treated by a doctor within one calender month
3) sudden and unknown cause
4) suspicious circumstances, violence or misadventure
5) self-inflicted
6) due to drugs or poisons
7) as a result of a RTA
8) following surgery or anesthetic
9) Due to negligence, misconduct, or malpractice
10) accident or disease at work
11) in prison or Garda custody
12) mental health act 2001
13) occurring within 24 hours of admission to hospital
14) death in a nursing home
15) if any doubt

Front 3

What is the role of coroner in death investigations?

Back 3

1) to obtain a positive identification of the deceased
2) to determine a time of death
3) to provide both a cause and mode of death
4) to record all internal and external abnormalities
5) to carry out any auxiliary investigations (toxicology, histology, microbiology, virology and serology)
6) to collect any trace evidence in suspicious death
7) to provide a coherent account of the cause of death and any diseases contributing to it on the basis of the above results

Front 4

Discuss the information required on a certificate of the cause of death and the roles of the GP and the coroner in the investigation of a sudden and unexpected death.

Back 4

A registered doctor that attended the person during their last illness and seen them in their last month of life must declare death (otherwise report of coroner, or report if family complains about medical care)

Info:
Patient's name, address, date of birth, date of death, next of kin, ect.
1a) final event that resulted in death
1b) what the final event arose from
1c) any underlying condition that may have contributed
2) any other medical conditions not related to the above, which may have contributed to the death

Front 5

Identification of human remains

Back 5

Identification:
- General: human, race, sex (get from clothing, preserved prostate or uterus, pelvic and other bone features), age (bones), stature (bones)
- Personal: face, fingerprints, dental, blood group, DNA, x-ray, person effects, personal defect

Front 6

What are the signs of putrefaction or decomposition?

Back 6

1) liquefaction of the tissues (including internal organs - bowel/lungs/brain)
2) chemical and enzymatic process
3) bowel bacteria proliferate, breakdown of Hb
4) green discoloration abdominal wall
5) Gas formation, swelling, and bloating
6) marbling of skin due to bacteria in vessels
7) purging of fluid from orifices
8) vessels, uterus, and prostate relatively resistant
9) +/- insects (common flies, bluebottles)

Front 7

Changes at the time of death

Back 7

1) cardio-respiratory failure
2) absent breath sounds
3) absent chest movement
4) absent pulse
5) absent heart sounds
6) pupils not reacting to light
7) loss of corneal reflexes
8) muscle flaccidity

Front 8

Changes within 24 hours after death

Back 8

1) Rigor mortis (chemical reaction due to a decrease in ATP)
- warm and flaccid (<3hrs)
- warm and stiff (3-8hrs)
- cold and stiff (8-36hrs)
- cold and flaccid (>36hrs)
2)hypostasis (blood vessels relax and blood settles under the influence of gravity)
- visible within 2-3hrs
- fixed after 12hrs
- used to tell if body was moved
3) cooling of the body (core temp starts to equilibrate to the environment)

Front 9

Changes at >48hrs after death

Back 9

1) Decomposition
2) putrefaction
3) mummification
4) adipocere (insoluble residue of fatty acids from pre-existing fats contained in decomposing material)
5) skeletonisation
6) animal scavenging

Front 10

What is somatic and cellular death?

Back 10

failure of the body as an integrated system. Loss of circulation, respiration and innervation for such a time that it is impossible for life to return.

Molecular death: (depends on susceptibility to oxygen deprivation)
-Brain lasts 3-7 minutes
-white blood cells up to 12hrs
-muscles respond to stimuli
for a few hours
-skin viable for several days
-important for transplants

Front 11

What is a persistent vegetative state?

Back 11

functioning brain stem but non-functioning higher centers, respiratory centers functioning do not require permanent assisted ventilation, require parenteral feeding, if heart protected from hypoxic damage and nutrition sustained, may survive for years

Front 12

What is brain stem death?

Back 12

-Coma due to damage to the ascending reticular activating system
-requires assisted ventilation due to failure of the respiratory motor system
-beating heart

Front 13

Give examples of sudden adult death in sport

Back 13

-males > females (US Males 1:133,000, females 1:800,000)
-usually underlying, undiagnosed congenital heart disease (cardiomyopathy most common)
-anomalous coronary circulation
-viral myocarditis

>40yo -> coronary artery diseae

Front 14

Discuss causes of sudden natural death

Back 14

1) Cardiac causes: coronary artery disease, hypertensive heart disease, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, myocarditis, aortic dissection, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, rupture of aortic aneurysm
2) CNS causes: epilepsy (SUDEp - sudden unexpected death in epilepsy), subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, intracranial pathology associated with acute hydrocephalus or epilepsy, neuroleptic malignant syndrome
3) Respiratory causes: epiglottitis, pulmonary thromboembolism, asthma, hemoptysis, spontaneous pneumothorax of the newborn
4) GI causes: haematemesis, chronic alcoholics (acute fatty degeneration of the liver), adrenal hemorrhage
5) other: air/fat/amniotic fluid emboli, ruptured ectopic pregnancy, toxic shock syndrome, sudden death in diabetes/alcohol, commotio cordis (blunt force trauma to the heart)

Front 15

Sudden adult death syndrome (SADS)

Back 15

SADS is unexpected death in an adult
- no signs or symptoms prior to death
- postmortem shows no anatomical cause of death
- specialized pathology examinations negative (neuropathology and toxicology negative)
- bacteriology negative
- presumed cardiac dysrrhythmia

Risk factors:
- family history of unexplained death in <40yo
- unexplained fainting in young people
- approx 1000 cases year in UK

Differential diagnosis:
- ARVD
- disorders of the ion channel (long QT syndromes, Brugada syndrome, Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia)

Treatment:
- Defibrillation
- Implantable defibrillator

Front 16

Discuss accidental death occurring in the home

Back 16

Young: poisoning (antifreeze, chemical cleaners, corrosives), drowning (unattended during bath), neglect at birth by mother, fire

Young adult: intoxication injuries, fire (smoking and being intoxication), substance abuse overdose

Elderly: overdose of prescription medicine (depression, dementia), fire (fall asleep while smoking)

Front 17

What samples should be taken by the doctor during the examination of a victim of sexual assault?

Back 17

1) for this examination the doctor receives a history from a police officer
2) the consent for examination must come from the victim
3) during the course of this examination the doctor will take a medical history as well as a history of the event (including sexual acts, ejaculation, intoxication, change of clothes/shower)
4) the doctor may then proceed to the examination (take contemporaneous notes which may be required for future court procedures, victim will undress while standing on a sterile sheet of paper and dress in a paper gown
5) general exam (height/weight/ect), look for marks of injuries from head to toe (strangulation, defense, petechial hemorrhages of the soft palate from forced oral sex)
6) more specific perineal exam
7) collect any trace evidence
- head hair, plucked/combings
- finger nail scrapings
- pubic hairs, combing
- swabs from the perineal, low vagina, high vagina, anus, and mouth (breast and thighs if indicated for dry fluid)
8) samples for toxicology (urine and blood, may show evidence up to 96hrs)
9) bite marks (specialized photograph and forensic odontologist)
10) once exam complete offer patient shower and clean clothes
11) patient should be made aware that the results of the examination and from the sample taken which will be used in court
12) medical examiner compiles a report
13) offer patient follow up counseling and advice regarding pregnancy and STIs

Front 18

What are the effects of cocaine on an abuser of that drug?

Back 18

Onset of action: euphoria occurs within seconds of inhaling crack cocaine, mucosal administration results in slower onset and longer duration, CNS stimulation is rostral to caudal (restlessness, excitement, later tonic clonic seizures)

mechanism: blockade of sodium channel and 5HT inhibition

Cardiac: myocardial oxygen demand rises/coronary constriction at the same time, widening of the QRS and decreasing contractility

Effects:
- cardiac: tachycardia, hypertension, arrythmias, vfib, myocardial ischaemia, sudden death
- psychiatric: excitement, elation, enhanced physical strength
- neurological: cerebral vasopasm, stoke, hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity
- renal: myoglobinuric renal failure/rhabdomyolysis
- pulmonary: from inhalation of hot gases (crack lung)

Front 19

What findings at a scene of death suggest death from drug overdose?

Back 19

- drugs at the scene or drug perephernalia
- equipment associated with the manufacture (chemistry sets), distribution, and use
- pacifiers in ecstasy overdose

Front 20

What might postmortem examination show in a drug overdose?

Back 20

results will vary depending on drug abused (injection -> track marks, snorted cocaine -> atrophy of the vessels of the nose)

Front 21

What can be done to confirm a diagnosis of death from drug overdose?

Back 21

traces of the drug or drug metabolites in the blood or body tissues such as hair and nails (or the vitreous humour of the eye)

Front 22

What are the most common drugs abused by young people? and how might they cause death?

Back 22

1) cocaine: induced myocardia ischaemia
2) ecstacy: hyperthermia and electrolyte imbalances

Front 23

What are the complications of anesthetics?

Back 23

1) allergy/hypersenstivity
2) overdosage (rapid absorption)
3) CNS stimulant or depressant
4) injection into a vessel
5) aspiration of gastric contents
6) malignant hyperthermia
7) respiratory depression
8) regional anesthetics (requires higher doses, permanent nerve damage)
9) general anesthetics: -inhalation (technique of administration, equipment failure, direct action of the anesthetic agent, hazards associated with unconsciousness)
- intravenous (adverse action on BP, heart, respiration)
- relaxant drugs (paralysis of throat muscles or inhalation)

Front 24

Paracetamol poisoing

Back 24

clinical features:
- acute hepatic necrosis (untreated, 2-4 days post)
- INR prolonged
- plasma aminotransferase elevated
- initial 24hrs nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain

Metabolism:
- toxic levels metabolize to NAPQI
- glutathione depleted
- hepatocyte death

Antidotes:
- N-acetylcysteine (IV, glutathione donor, fully protects <15hrs)
- Methionine (oral, remote areas)

Front 25

Ectasy intoxication

Back 25

symptoms: agitation, tachycardia, hypertension, jaw clenching, teeth grinding, sweating, panic attacks

severe effects: delirium, coma, convulsions, SVT and ventricular dysrhythmias, rigidity, hyperreflexia, rhabdomyolysis, ARDS, DIC, intracerebral hemorrhage, hyperthermia

mechanism: early (cardiac arrhythmias), late (malignant hyperthermia)

Front 26

Findings on examination of the death of an IV drug abuser

Back 26

external:
-needle marks or tracks
-tattoos
-self-inflicted injuries
-jaundice
-blisters
-acniefrom facial eruption
-clothing (vomit or glue)

Internal:
-cardiac or respiratory failure with pulmonary oedema and congestion of the organs
-stomach may contain tablets or tablet residue
-delayed deaths may have liver or kidney damage
-chronic alcohol abuse death is due to inhalation material will be found in the airways and there will be hemorrhages in the lungs
-evidence of natural death

requires toxicology analysis of blood, urine, liver, gastric contents, and other body fluids

Front 27

What are the causes of death in chronic alcoholics?

Back 27

Acute death:
- acute alcohol and toxication alone
- inhalation of gastric contents
- choking
- unrelated causes

chronic:
- due to affects on the liver and other organs, principally the heart or hypothermia

Trauma:
- falls
- head injuries
- burns
- scalds
- fire deaths
- electrocution
- drowning
- overdoses
- RTA (drivers and pedestrians)
- industrial accidents
- assaults and homicides

- infections (pneumonia, TB)
- CNS (epilepsy, delirium tremens, Wernicke's encephalopathy, Korsakoff's syndrome)
- Portal hypertension with oesophageal varices
- liver failure
- cardio-myopathy
- acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis
- gastro-intestinal hemorrhage

Front 28

date rape/spiked drink

Back 28

benzodiazepines: old style high dose easily detected, new style low dose rarely detected

flunitrazepam
rohypnol
roofies
(Illegal in US, legal in Europe)

gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB)
usually liquid but can be powder or capsules, onset 10-20 minutes, duration 1-3 hours, can accidentally overdose

Front 29

Anti-freeze poisoning

Back 29

-contains ethylene glycol (major danger following ingestion)
-sweet taste so children and animals may consume large amounts
-giver person an alcoholic beverage until paramedics arrive (competitive inhibitor)

symptoms: three stages
1) dizziness, headaches, slurred speech, and confusion
2) tachycardia, hypertension, hyperventilation, and metabolic acidosis
3) kidney injury -> acute renal failure, calcium oxylate crystals in the kidney

treatment: stabilize patient and gastric decontamination (needs to be rapid for greatest benefit)
-gastric lavage or nasogastric aspiration
-ipecac-induced vomiting or activated charcoal are not recommended
-antidotes: fomepizole or ethanol (mainstay of treatment)
-hemodialysis can also be used to enhance the removal of unmetabolized ethylene glycol, as well as its metabolites from the body (added benefit of correcting other metabolic derangements)

Front 30

In what situations can carbon monoxide poisoning occur?

Back 30

- 75% of fatalities occur in fire victims
- exposure to products of inadequate combustion (faulty kerosene or gas heaters, gas water heaters, gas central heating boilers, fire places with blocked flues
- exposure to methylene chloride (paint stripper when broken down in liver)
- tobacco smoke (10-15% in smokers compare to 1-3% in non-smokers)

Front 31

How to avoid being struck by lightening

Back 31

-direct strikes occur when the lightning bolt directly strikes a person, the lightning bolt follows the shortest path of discharge to strike and earthed conductor. Direst strikes can be avoided by remaining indoors during lightning storm, and if you must leave the house try to remain dry, and don't ware any item that can conduct electricity (metal jewelry or hairpins), also try to be isolated and not "earthed" by wearing rubber boots

-indirect strikes occur when another object is primarily hit, such as a tree. the person may be injured by a sideflash or the current may be conducted through intermediary objects such as pipes or wires and strike a person. this may be avoided by avoiding walking near telephone wires, or tall objects such as light poles or trees

Front 32

In what circumstances may people develop hypothermia?

Back 32

-Spontaneous hypothermia (common, accidental occurring in the elderly, alcoholics, and drug abusers during winter seasons. It is associated with lack of indoor heating, lack of clothing, and lack of food. Predisposing factors include debilitating disease such as TB or cancer).
- exposure and immersion hypothermia: this usually occurs in adults in severe cold climates during physical activity such as mountain climbing or accidental immersion in water during the winter.
- secondary hypothermia: disturbance in temperature regulation caused by certain diseases such as hypothyroidism and hypopituitarism
- induced hypothermia: induced intentionally (cardiac surgery -> reduces output and bleeding)
- neonatal/cold injury: neglect from mother/inattention at birth occurring in the first few hours to days of life

Front 33

In what circumstances may people develop hyperthermia?

Back 33

- heat and exertion in young: seen in athlete, military recruits, and labourers
- heat wave and natural disease of elderly
- drugs (ecstasy)
- malignant hyperthermia: life threatening hyperthermia induced by drugs such as anaethetic agents
- predisposition: alcohol major tranquillisers

Front 34

Injuries sustained in an explosion

Back 34

1) blast injury
- shock wave injures hollow organs
- blast winds: in contact cause severe disintegration (<3 feet -> partial, >3 feet -> abrasions/bruises/punctate lacerations/dirt tattooing)
2) flash burns
3) blunt trauma (masonry and flying missiles)
4) thermal burns
5) fumes

Front 35

Fresh water drowning

Back 35

more dangerous than salt water
-hypotonic water enters the lungs and is absorbed into the bloodstream.
-The increase in blood volume causes acute cardiac failure.
-There is a change in the osmotic pressure and electrolyte disturbance.
-Dilution of plasma causes haemolysis, rupture of the red cells releases potassium, which is cardiotoxic.
-Death is rapid with cardiac arrest in 2-3 minutes.
-Water reacts with surfactant causing collapse of the alveoli and froth production.

Front 36

Salt water drowning

Back 36

-Salt water is hypertonic (5% NaCl)
-there is no massive fluid transfer into the circulation
-fluid transfer into the lungs causes massive pulmonary oedema with froth in the airways
-haemoconcentration cause hyperviscosity of the blood, hypovolaemia, and hypertension and bradycardia
-death slower, predominantly asphyxial, due to water in the alveoli
-cardiac arrest occurs in 4 to 8 minutes, shorter if struggling
-survival may be longer in cold water
-maybe recovered successfully

Front 37

Forensic significance of diatoms

Back 37

-Microscopic algea.
-Silica cored, minute organisms found in fresh and salt water, tap water, soil, and air, but not found in polluted water or quick running streams.
-Seasonal.
-Will be found in the lunges of all bodies in water
-If person alive before entering the water the inhaled diatoms will be absorbed into the bloodstream and circulate to other organs
-resistant to putrefaction therefore in badly decomposed bodies can be identified in bone marrow which is protected from contamination when in the water
-must compare with potential source (water body recovered from)
-not legal proof of drowning

Front 38

features of a close range gunshot

Back 38

for close, near discharge, of a few centimeters, there will be a single entry hole but no contact abrasion, but there will be evidence of the secondary projectiles, including scorching of the wound margins due to flame, blackening of the skin around the wound margins due to smoke and tattooing or stippling of the skin around the wound margins due to unbrunt powder particles. In close range, probably up to 15cm or so, scorching, smoke blackenign, and tattooing may all be present.

Front 39

Compare and contrast gunshot injuries from riles and shotguns, including those features which are useful in estimating range of fire

Back 39

Shotguns: smooth bore weapons that fire pellets from cartridges. The appearance of entry wounds depends on the distance from which it was fired. The pellets are closest together when they leave the barrel and spread out as they travel further away from the shotgun. Therefore, close range shots will have circular entry wounds with secondary projectiles such as wadding, unburnt powder, and packaging material around the wound. In intermediate range injuries, 20-100cm, as the gun moves further away up to about 15 cm there would be smoke and soot around the wound and up to 50cm there could be unburned powder tattooing depending on the type of powder. At distances more than 2 meters away stray pellets will strike the skin around the main entry hole.

-Rifled weapons: at close range, less than a meter, there will be a single entry wound. There will be varying degrees of flame damage, soot or smoke staining, tattooing or powder abrasions. At more than a few meters, out of the range of secondary projectiles, the bullet entry hole comprises a neat entry wound, with an abrasion collar and the edges inverted. Generally the entry hole is less than the diameter of the bullet.

Front 40

What is an abrasion?

Back 40

-most superficial injury
-surface of the skin (confined to the epidermis)
-maybe called a graze or scratch
-rough surface striking the body tangentially
-skin tags at far end
-may also be directional, linear scratches across injury
-perpendicular force applied to the skin surface can cause crushing of the epidermis (may see outline of object)
-golden yellow if occur at time of death or after death (parchmenting)
-may have characteristic pattern (ligature marks)
-fragments of material (glass, paint, ect) may be embedded in the abrasion

Front 41

What is a bruise?

Back 41

-blunt force trauma applied to the person or the person striking a solid surface
-surface epithelium is unharmed but the connective tissue is crushed and the small blood vessels, arterioles, and veins, rupture and blood escapes into the tissues
-blood spreads along lines of cleavage (natural or due to trauma -> causative object)
-margins can shift due to the effects of gravity (spreading down neck from scalp)
-may take up to 48hrs to develop (living or dead)
-children/elderly/vit C deficient/hemorrhagic tendency bruise easier -> purpura
-petechial: shearing forces (love bite) or areas of congestion resulting in hypoxia/asphyxia

Front 42

defense injuries

Back 42

caused in attempts to defend oneself from an attack. They can be found on the arms, hands, legs, or back. the type of injury will indicate the type of assault

Front 43

lacerations

Back 43

-most severe skin wound
-breach in the full thickness of the skin (split, tear, or gash0
-direct blow crushing the skin
-where skin directly overlies bone (scalp, face, shin)
-shearing or tearing forces
-commonly have linear appearance and are mistaken for incised wounds, but the edges are often more ragged
-kicking blows, weapons, falls, RTA
-can bleed profusely

Front 44

incised wounds

Back 44

-cuts, slices, slashes due to sharp cutting instruments
-length is greater than depth (shallow wounds)
-wound margins are uninjured (exceptions: glass or ax injuries)
-blood vessels, nerves, and tendons are often severed
-accidents, self-harm, suicide attempts, assaults
-face, neck, forearms, wrists
-multiple parallel and symmetrical
-tentative injuries

Front 45

self-harm injuries

Back 45

1) usually with sharp weapon (incised wounds)
2) suicide wounds
3) manipulative wounds (person may have personality disorder, may be inflicted while in custody in order to get into hospital)
4) false accusation of injury in assault
5) claims for compensation
6) drug related injuries, due to injecting and sometimes 'self-harm' or suicide attempts
7) tattoos,tribal markings, piercings

Front 46

Hanging

Back 46

-complete suspension is not essential (body weight compresses the neck)
-ligature mark forms an abraded groove around neck, deepest opposite the suspension point
-rarely asphyxial signs and the face is usually pale
-if left hanging, postmortem lividity will be influenced by gravity (lower half of body)
-internally there is usually little or no bruising (seen in strangulation)
-cervical spine only dislocated if dropped from several feet

Front 47

ligature strangulation

Back 47

-homicidal and only rarely suicidal or accidental
-more commonly female or a person easily overcome
-ligature depends on what is used
-external force used to tighten
-mark tends to be horizontal
-above level of the ligature there are usually florid asphyxial signs
-internally: bruising under skin, at base of tongue, and on the posterior pharynx. Thyroid cartilages or hyoid bone maybe fractured.

Front 48

Subdural hemorrhage

Back 48

-bleeding between dura mater and arachnoid mater
-acute, subacute (3-14 days), chronic (>14 days)
- source: bridging veins, venous sinus, may not be obvious at post mortem/surgery
- occurs: elderly, alcoholics, children (shaken baby), whiplash injury
- problems: less clearly association with impact injury, not necessarily associated with fracture, due to shearing forces, takes hours to produce symptoms (latent interval)

Front 49

head injuries due to blunt force trauma

Back 49

-Scalp: abrasions, bruises, and lacerations
-Skull: fracture (doesn't correlate with injury to brain, vault or base, deformed hoop -> outbending of skull away from impact site, depressed, sidplaced)
-meneges: extradural, subdural, subarachnoid
-brain: cerebral contusions and lacerations, brain swelling

Front 50

uses of radiology

Back 50

-identify injury/cause of death
-internal lacerations and fractures in RTAs
-identify people (dental)
-all bodies should be x-rayed

Front 51

Locard's principle

Back 51

"every contact leaves a trace"
-finding evidence which would link the suspect and victim (the scene of the crime and any weapon used)

Front 52

Forensic aspects of DNA

Back 52

Sources of DNA: Semen, Blood, Tissue, Saliva, Hair

Variable regions of DNA
within the non-coding DNA are short sequences that repeat themselves (short tandem repeats).
The core sequence is relatively short in length.
This forms the basis for the DNA profiling techniques in use today.

Front 53

Discuss the purpose of the inquest and the role of the medical witness

Back 53

The purpose of the inquest is to determine the identity of the deceased, the medical cause of death and the time, place and circumstances of the death.

The role of the medical witness is to assist the court with the benefit of his/her experience and the provide possible/probable reasoning which then allow the court to form opinions and to make judgments if there is a dispute between the parties

Front 54

Define the term "Expert Witness" in a medical context

Back 54

Definition:
-BMA: someone called in by one side or the other to interpret the facts using his/her expertise
-Legal: any person who has such knowledge or experience...that his opinion... would be admissable in evidence

Any person who has the experience to give an informed opinion on a matter outside the experience of the court, may give expert evidence

Front 55

Role of the doctor at the scene

Back 55

Confirm death: preliminary assessment regarding cause of death, unusual or worrying features, particularly injuries assessment of how long dead

Confirm death:
-if obviously dead, disturb the body as little as possible , unless the deceased is your patient, and a 'Death Certificate' is going to be issued.
-do as much, but as little as possible, to satisfy yourself that the person is dead
-bodies 'recovering' in the mortuary is uncommon

Cause of death:
-natural: dead in bed, sitting or lying on the flood, with no unusual findings
-accidental: usually obvious from the scene, usually injuries, pattern of injuries consistent with the circumstances
-suicide: scene suggestive (drug found) or conclusive (hanging)
-'suspicious': position of body, state of clothing, marks or injuries on the body

Front 56

Role of the forensic pathologist

Back 56

1) to obtain a positive identification of the deceased
-initially a relative or friend of the deceased will identify them to the coroner or his appointed officer (Guardai)
-the coroner or his officer will then identify the body to the pathologist who is to carry out the autopsy
2) to determine a time of death
3) to provide a time of death
4) to provide both a cause and a mode of death
4) to record all internal and external abnormalities
5) to carry out any auxiliary investigations (toxicology, histology, microbiology, virology and serology) necessary to establish the cause of death
6) to collect any trace evidence in suspicious deaths
7) to provide a coherent account of the cause of death and any diseases contributing to it on basis of above results