Sample pooling as an effective way of simultaneous analysis of new designer drugs together with synthetic cannabinoids in human serum provided by therapy and forensic psychiatric centres
(Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - April 3, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Dziadosz, M., Klintschar, M., Teske, J. Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research
The cardiac pathology of non-natural (forensic) deaths
(Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - April 3, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Lloyd, K. L., Suvarna, S. K. Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research
Child maltreatment and neglect, or poverty and ignorance: An old case from the museum
We present an old case, from the year 1928, of a girl who, as an 18-month-old, had ingested a small amount of lye, and over time oesophageal stenosis had developed. However, her parents had not taken her to hospital until 4 months after the event, after an episode of bloody vomiting. She spent the remaining time of her life in the hospital, where she died as a 3-year-old. Her parents did not visit once during that time. After the autopsy, the opinion about the cause and mechanism of death had five steps: the immediate cause of death was purulent pneumonia, which was a complication of small pox and severe undernourishment; ...
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - April 3, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Nikolic, S., Zivkovic, V. Tags: Case reports Source Type: research
Long-term outcome in a case of shaken baby syndrome
Shaken baby syndrome is one of the most common causes of disability and death in infants younger than one year of age. The syndrome is the result of major mechanical forces affecting the head and central nervous system. The outcome for surviving children is often poor, with both physical and mental disabilities. Multicystic encephalomalacia has been reported as a finding after such shaking. The present case involves a one-month-old boy who was brought to hospital by his father because of somnolence and feeding aversion. Radiological imaging revealed subdural haematomas, and fundoscopy found retinal haemorrhages. During pol...
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - April 3, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Bartschat, S., Richter, C., Stiller, D., Banschak, S. Tags: Case reports Source Type: research
Benefit of STR-based chimerism analysis to identify TA-GVHD as a cause of death: Utility of various biological specimens
Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is a rare condition. It can occur after blood transfusion in immune-compromised and occasionally even in immune-competent patients, and is associated with a mortality rate of >90%. The diagnosis of TA-GVHD is often delayed because of its non-specific clinical features. A case of an immune-competent child who developed TA-GVHD is reported here. DNA profiling (short tandem repeat analysis), a technique that has a wide application in forensic medicine, was performed to detect the presence of donor cells in this patient. The findings suggest that more studies are ne...
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - April 3, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Raina, A., Chaudhary, G., Dogra, T. D., Khandelwal, D., Balayan, A., Jain, V., Kanga, U., Seth, T. Tags: Case reports Source Type: research
Homicidal commotio cordis caused by domestic violence: A report of two cases
Commotio cordis is a rare and fatal mechano-electric arrhythmogenic syndrome, occurring mainly during sports activities. The present study describes two cases of sudden death due to homicidal commotio cordis caused violence from an intimate partner. The two decedents were both young women. They suffered from physical abuse by their intimate partner and collapsed immediately after being punched in the precordium. Electrocardiograms were recorded at the hospital and showed ventricular fibrillation in one case. An autopsy was performed in each case, and no structural cardiac damage, evident lesions of other internal organs or...
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - April 3, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Mu, J., Zhang, J., Liu, L., Dong, H. Tags: Case reports Source Type: research
Skin wounds vitality markers in forensic pathology: An updated review
Wound age evaluation is one of the most challenging issues in forensic pathology. In the first minutes or hours, standard histological examination may not determine whether the wound was inflicted in the pre- or post-mortem period. While red blood cell infiltration is classically considered as a sign of vital reaction, several studies have shown that extravasation of blood cells may also occur after death and cannot be used as a reliable marker in the diagnosis of wound vitality. Numerous studies about wound vitality are available in the literature. They have evaluated markers involved in coagulation or inflammation, using...
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - April 3, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Casse, J.-M., Martrille, L., Vignaud, J.-M., Gauchotte, G. Tags: Review articles Source Type: research
Excited delirium: A psychiatric review
The term ‘excited delirium’ (ED) is used to explain sudden and unexpected restraint-related deaths. Since the 1990s, ED has often been identified as the principal cause of death in restrained individuals, rather than the restraint procedure itself. Forensic pathologists and psychiatrists attach different meanings to the term delirium. For psychiatrists, delirium is a specific technical term, which implies a grave and potentially life-threatening underlying physical illness. If a patient dies during a bout of delirium, psychiatrists assume that there will be autopsy evidence to demonstrate the primary underlying...
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - April 3, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Lipsedge, M. Tags: Review articles Source Type: research
Child abuse and child protection: The role of the expert
(Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - April 3, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Samuels, A. Tags: Review articles Source Type: research
The embalming of John of Lancaster, first Duke of Bedford (1435 AD): A forensic analysis
During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, embalming the cadaver of the elite was common practice, being a highly technical treatment mixing vegetal and mineral substances. To assess the exact kind of embalming reserved for the dead body (with the practical necessities of desiccation and good odour), we performed a full biomedical analysis of the mummified remains of John Plantagenet of Lancaster, first Duke of Bedford, regent of France for his nephew, the English King Henri VI (died 1435 AD). Here, we show, among other aspects, that the body was embalmed using substances whose origins were in apothecary and botany: mercury, ...
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - April 3, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Charlier, P., Poupon, J., Jeannel, G., Favier, D., Popescu, S., Augias, A., Huynh-Charlier, I., Laquay, L., Boudouma, O., Dorion-Peyronnet, C. Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Sections 135 and 136: Running a health-based place of safety in Gloucestershire
The Maxwell Centre, a health-based place of safety (POS) adjacent to a psychiatric hospital, was opened in Gloucestershire in February 2009. It provides a POS for people detained under Sections 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 as amended in 2007. Prior to the opening of the Maxwell Centre, police cells were the only designated POSs. To assess the impact of the opening of this new facility, we undertook a service evaluation. In the five years (February 2009 to December 2013) following the opening of the Maxwell Centre, the use of Section 136 increased by more than 60%. (Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - April 3, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Pugh, D., Laidlaw, J. Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Prevalence of abuse in mentally ill patients visiting outpatient setting in a tertiary care hospital in India
Conclusions
There is a need to create awareness in society in order to prevent abuse. Screening for abuse in routine psychiatric practice is of utmost importance so that timely interventions can be given, thereby preventing its deleterious health consequences. (Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - April 3, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Bhatia, M. S., Srivastava, S., Khyati, M., Kaushik, R. Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Sudden cardiac death with stress and restraint: The association with sudden adult death syndrome, cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease
Conclusions
This study highlights SCD during psychological stress, mostly in young males where the sudden death occurred in the absence of structural heart disease. This may reflect the proarrhythmic potential of high catecholamines on the structurally normal heart in those genetically predisposed because of cardiac channelopathy. Structural cardiomyopathies and coronary artery disease also feature prominently. Cases of SCD associated with altercation and restraint receive mass media attention especially when police/other governmental bodies are involved. This study highlights the rare but important risk of SCD associated ...
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - April 3, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Krexi, L., Georgiou, R., Krexi, D., Sheppard, M. N. Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Ages of legal importance: Implications in relation to birth registration and age assessment practices
This article is intended to report the most recent data on the ages of legal importance in the major countries of the world and implicate its relevance to birth registration and age assessment practices. (Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - January 11, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Jayaraman, J., Roberts, G. J., Wong, H. M., McDonald, F., King, N. M. Tags: Short communication Source Type: research
Response to letter to the editor
(Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - January 11, 2016 Category: Medical Law Authors: Sheppard, M. N. Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research
