The Last Page: Question
(Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Tags: The Last Page Source Type: research
Acknowledgement to the authors of the Quiz Section
(Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Tags: Law and science Source Type: research
Notice to all Members of British Academy of Forensic Sciences
(Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Tags: Law and science Source Type: research
Acknowledgement to reviewers
(Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Tags: Law and science Source Type: research
Law and science
(Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Authors: Prior, S. Tags: Law and science Source Type: research
Response to Letter to the editor
(Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Authors: Searle, J. Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research
Widmark calculations and their uncertainty
(Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Authors: Gullberg, R. G. Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research
The use of dental putty in the assessment of hard surfaces within paved urban areas that may leave defined or patterned marks on bodies
This study was designed to demonstrate how variable surfaces are within paved urban areas, including those which might leave marks resembling footwear patterns, and to evaluate whether dental putty impression lifting is a practical and effective adjunct to photography in assessing patterned surfaces. Eighteen ‘scenes’ of approximately 50 m2 were assessed for different hard surfaces by photography and by the production of dental putty impression lifts. The number of hard surfaces varied between 4 and 12 per scene, with 90% (122/135) of all hard surfaces deemed likely to leave distinct marking on skin with forcef...
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Authors: Johnson, O. R., Lyall, M., Johnson, C. P. Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Retinal haemorrhages associated with fatal paediatric infections
We present an autopsy case series of four children, aged three years old or younger, in whom RHs were detected by post-mortem monocular indirect ophthalmoscopy after the patients had died from infections. We discuss the laterality, number, type and location of RHs in these cases, and summarize proposed mechanisms of RH formation in fatalities from paediatric infection. We demonstrate that many of the ophthalmological findings that have been considered diagnostic of abusive head trauma can also occur in association with infective processes. (Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Authors: Salvatori, M. C., Lantz, P. E. Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Involuntary treatment of psychiatric inpatients certified under the Saskatchewan Mental Health Services Act in a secure forensic psychiatric treatment center
A psychiatric patient prisoner is certified and treated involuntarily under the Saskatchewan Mental Health Services Act at the Regional Psychiatric Center if he/she is mentally ill, incapable of making treatment decision and is likely to cause harm to self or others. This retrospective study examined the treatment of certified patients during a 12-year period (1996 to 2007). A total of 112 patients were treated using 263 certifications during 163 separate hospital admissions. Fifty of all the certified patients (44.6%) required more than one certification, and out of these, 72% required another certification within three m...
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Authors: Adelugba, O., Mela, M., Haq, I. Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Coroner consistency - The 10-jurisdiction, 10-year, postcode lottery?
The investigation and classification of deaths in England and Wales relies upon the application by medical practitioners of diverse reporting standards set locally by coroners and thereafter upon the effectively unconstrained decision process of those same coroners. The author has conducted extensive comparative analysis of Ministry of Justice data on reports to the coroner and their inquest and verdict returns alongside Office of National Statistics data pertaining to the numbers of registered deaths in equivalent local jurisdictions. Here, he analyses 10 jurisdictions characterised by almost identical inquest return numb...
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Authors: Mclean, M. Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Fetal laceration during caesarean section and its medico-legal sequelae
Fetal laceration is a recognized complication of caesarean delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, type, location, risk factors and long-term consequences of accidental fetal incised wounds during caesarean delivery. During a five-year period, we observed 25 cases of fetal lacerations caused by the scalpel during hysterotomy. In 20 of these cases, we observed these lesions as consultants for the Neonatologic Care Unit; the other five cases came under our care after an insurance claim for damages against the gynaecologist. All the infants had a lesion located to the head. In only 5 of the 25 cases ...
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Authors: Esposito, C., Escolino, M., Paternoster, M., Buccelli, C., Graziano, V., Falco, M., Alicchio, F., Cerulo, M., Settimi, A., Savanelli, A. Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Enzymatic maceration of bone: a gentler technique than boiling
This proof of concept study investigates the removal of soft tissue from human ribs with the use of two common methods: boiling with a laundry detergent and using enzymes. Six individuals were autopsied, and one rib from each individual was removed for testing. Each rib was cut into pieces and afterwards macerated by one of the two methods. DNA extraction was performed to see the effect of the macerations on DNA preservation. Furthermore, the bone pieces were examined in a stereomicroscope to assess for any bone damage. The results demonstrated that both methods removed all flesh/soft tissue from the bones. The DNA analysi...
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Authors: Uhre, M.-L., Eriksen, A. M., Simonsen, K. P., Rasmussen, A. R., Hjort, B. B., Lynnerup, N. Tags: Technical report Source Type: research
An unusual case of homicide with a crossbow and a hunting knife
We report a case of murder received at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Milan carried out by two weapons – a crossbow and a hunting knife – that resulted in multiple thoraco-abdominal wounds. The case is also rare because of the unique circumstances involving the victim – a local service psychiatrist – and the perpetrator – a former medical specialist in psychiatry, suffering from a delusional psychotic disorder. The crossbow was the decisive instrument in the realization of the murder; it was chosen with premeditation for its high destructive capacity and the fact that it was easily obtaina...
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Authors: Clerici, C. A., Muccino, E., Gentile, G., Marchesi, M., Veneroni, L., Zoja, R. Tags: Case reports Source Type: research
Hydranencephaly in a case of suspected infanticide
An abandoned fetus with suspicious skin injuries was found dead, lying on the grass of a garden, near a private house. Suspecting infanticide, the prosecutor ordered a medico-legal autopsy. The cause of death was identified as a congenital malformation of the central nervous system such as hydranencephaly, and infanticide was excluded. (Source: Medicine, Science and the Law)
Source: Medicine, Science and the Law - May 13, 2015 Category: Medical Law Authors: Verzeletti, A., Leide, A., De Ferrari, F. Tags: Case reports Source Type: research
