In view of a growing number of terrorist attacks, as well as mass casualty events including natural disasters, aviation accidents, disasters in land traffic, construction disasters and others, emergency response services...In view of a growing number of terrorist attacks, as well as mass casualty events including natural disasters, aviation accidents, disasters in land traffic, construction disasters and others, emergency response services operating on the sites of such mass events require a set of rapid, efficient and well-coordinated methods of operation. As a result of the increasing migration of people for tourism, business and settlement purposes, it frequently happens that the emergency response resources and infrastructure in the countries where mass casualty events occur are insufficient for the identification of victims who may be citizens of multiple countries. Coordinated actions by international Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) teams using Interpol's standardised DVI procedures may be a good solution ensuring efficient and reliable identification of local and international disaster victims. Interpol's periodic DVI conferences provide a great opportunity for the exchange of experiences between DVI team specialists from different countries, and discussions on various aspects of disaster victim identification based on real-life events in which DVI specialists were actively involved. The article presents the latest reports on the organisation of identification activities at the scene of events, and the role of the principal DVI methods, which were presented during the international 30th Interpol Disaster Victim Identification Conference which took place at the Interpol Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore on 14-16 May 2019. Also outlined are the measures taken towards the introduction of Interpol's international DVI standards in Poland, and the establishment of the Polish DVI team.
Teresiński in his studies, both older ones, published in 2013 [1, 2] and the recent one from 2019 [3] as a follow-up to the earlier studies, discusses "acceleration" as a criterion of selective verification of the sequel...Teresiński in his studies, both older ones, published in 2013 [1, 2] and the recent one from 2019 [3] as a follow-up to the earlier studies, discusses "acceleration" as a criterion of selective verification of the sequelae of whiplash injury. In principle, the approach outlined in the cited studies is correct, but it lacks an explicit definition of what precisely is meant by "acceleration". In the 2013 papers, the author failed to give any indication as to what type of "acceleration" was discussed, while in his latest publication he stated that "acceleration" referred to the "acceleration of the centre of gravity of the vehicle in which the victim was travelling", which is also an insufficiently precise definition. More detailed information on the topic can be found in the paper by Kędzierski [4], written from the perspective of an engineer and complementary to Teresiński's study [3], which was published in the same issue of Archives of Forensic Medicine and Criminology, but the aspect is not highlighted enough among the abundance of information presented there.
Despite the fact that the rules for obtaining reference material for handwriting expert opinion are specified in the literature and remain unchanged for years, the judicial authorities often do not use them. The experts...Despite the fact that the rules for obtaining reference material for handwriting expert opinion are specified in the literature and remain unchanged for years, the judicial authorities often do not use them. The experts themselves also do not attach due importance to the quality and quantity of reference material and remain contented with material diverging from the recommended one. The described case demonstrates that such an approach can lead to mistakes and the rules for collecting reference material should be observed not only in complicated cases but also in seemingly uncomplicated ones.
This article deals with the problematic aspects relating to aviation crash victim identification in Poland and the specific nature of participation of a forensic medicine expert in activities undertaken as part of an ext...This article deals with the problematic aspects relating to aviation crash victim identification in Poland and the specific nature of participation of a forensic medicine expert in activities undertaken as part of an external examination group and a Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team. It describes in a concise manner the course of the process of identification of the victims' bodies, beginning with the actions undertaken at the incident site and ending with the public prosecutor's decision to allow for the interment of dead bodies or human remains. It presents a catalogue of identification methods by grouping them from the most credible ones to the ones that merely suggest the victim's identity. It concisely describes the tasks faced by the forensic pathologist, who plays a double role at a crash site, i.e. as a member of an external examination group and of a DVI team.
Stature estimation is an important early step during forensic analysis of human skeletal remnants. The aim of the present study was to obtain a linear regression formula for estimating stature from foramen magnum measure...Stature estimation is an important early step during forensic analysis of human skeletal remnants. The aim of the present study was to obtain a linear regression formula for estimating stature from foramen magnum measurements of a central Indian population. The study includes 81 male and 55 female cadavers brought for medicolegal autopsies. The linear regression equations were derived from length (FML), breadth (FMB) and area (FMA) of foramen magnum. The regression model provided a 95% confidence interval of ± 11.1 cm, ± 10.4, and ± 10.5 cm and a correlation coefficient of 0.69, 0.75, and 0.74 for length, breadth, and area of male foramen magnum, respectively. Similarly, the regression model provided a 95% confidence interval of ± 13.4 cm, ± 11.4 cm, and ± 12.8 cm and a correlation coefficient of 0.45, 0.68, and 0.57 for length, breadth, and area of female foramen magnum. Compared to other studies, regression formulae based on the measurements of the foramen magnum provided slightly larger standard errors than that based on long bone lengths. The study indicates that foramen magnum measurements in relation with body stature show strong positive correlation, relatively moderate reliability in estimating stature, and some forensic value.
The available literature on traces characterised by a suboptimal amount of DNA, as well as expert research practice, show the complex nature of LT-DNA traces: from their detection and collection, through genetic analysis...The available literature on traces characterised by a suboptimal amount of DNA, as well as expert research practice, show the complex nature of LT-DNA traces: from their detection and collection, through genetic analysis, up to the interpretation of final results. The aims of this paper are to systematise the current state of knowledge on handling LT-DNA traces and develop examination guidelines, as recommended by the Polish Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG-PL). The proposed guidelines should be followed by all Polish laboratories conducting forensic genetic analyses for the purpose of judicial proceedings.
The study was an attempt to characterize symptoms and factors suggesting a traumatic cause of pericerebral space widening in infants. This heterogeneous group of disorders, rarely observed in forensic pathological practi...The study was an attempt to characterize symptoms and factors suggesting a traumatic cause of pericerebral space widening in infants. This heterogeneous group of disorders, rarely observed in forensic pathological practice, poses consultative problems, as it may be difficult to distinguish between spontaneous disease-related changes and traumatic complications, and differentiate accidental from non-accidental trauma. The study is based on the records of two cases submitted for examination in order to determine the degree of health impairment. In both cases, a female infant was indicated as the injured person. A review of medical records, particularly medical imaging findings, provided evidence to conclude that the subdural hygromas diagnosed in both infants had a post-traumatic origin. On that basis, factors were selected for consideration in medicolegal assessment, including history of head injury, retinal haemorrhage, presence of other external and internal injuries suggesting battered or shaken baby syndromes, onset and rate of symptom aggravation, perinatal anamnesis, presence of arachnoid cysts, and diseases from the group of metabolic defects.
The analysis comprised a total of 450 cases covering the period 2017-2018, in which death was a result of traffic accident, fall from a height, and crushing. Post-mortem examinations carried out at the Department of Fore...The analysis comprised a total of 450 cases covering the period 2017-2018, in which death was a result of traffic accident, fall from a height, and crushing. Post-mortem examinations carried out at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Krakow consisted of conventional autopsy and post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT). The aims of the study were to evaluate the prevalence of pneumothorax in the study group, and attempt to identify a correlation between pneumothorax and the presence of specific types of thoracic injuries and the circumstances of trauma. Based on the PMCT data, pneumothorax was detected in 43% of cases in the study group. An important finding was the presence of tension pneumothorax with lung collapse and mediastinal shift in 16% of cadavers in the study group. The main injuries accompanying pneumothorax were found to be fractures of the rib cage (ribs, sternum, spine) and lung injuries. In 20% of cases, pneumothorax was shown to coexist with subcutaneous emphysema. In 11% of cases, marked asymmetry of the chest was noted. The circumstances of trauma resulting in the accumulation of air in the pleural cavities included primarily falls from a height and hits by a vehicle.
INTRODUCTION: Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) is an examination technique which provides particular benefits in forensic medical practice in the evaluation of traumatic injuries. However, the usefulness of PMCT in...INTRODUCTION: Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) is an examination technique which provides particular benefits in forensic medical practice in the evaluation of traumatic injuries. However, the usefulness of PMCT in the diagnosis of parenchymal structures in the human body is not obvious. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the usefulness of PMCT in the diagnosis of parenchymal organ injuries (liver, pancreas, spleen and kidneys) and the presence of blood in the abdominal cavity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on a population of deceased persons who underwent medicolegal autopsy in the Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow. The study included cases of violent death with the presence of blunt-force trauma. In all cases studied, the autopsy examination was preceded by PMCT. Both methods were employed to identify signs of injury to parenchymal organs and the presence of blood in the abdominal cavity. Observations made during the autopsies were considered in this study as the gold standard to which the PMCT findings were compared. RESULTS: The data obtained in the study was analyzed statistically to determine a range of parameters including sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and reliability. The values were presented in a tabulated form. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of usefulness of PMCT in the detection of abdominal parenchymal organ injuries and the presence of blood in the abdominal cavity failed to yield satisfactory results that would justify the application of PMCT in medicolegal practice as a diagnostic tool comparable to autopsy. However, promising results were obtained with respect to the suitability of PMCT as a screening test to exclude the presence of such injuries.
AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of effects equivalent to moderate and severe impairment to health within the meaning of the Penal Code in patients with zygomatico-maxillo-orbital fra...AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of effects equivalent to moderate and severe impairment to health within the meaning of the Penal Code in patients with zygomatico-maxillo-orbital fractures and isolated orbital floor fractures. In addition, the study addressed the possibilities of applying the presented results in the preparation of medicolegal opinions in cases provided for in Articles 158 and 160 of the PC with respect to evaluating the plausibility of inflicting such bodily injuries and causing moderate and severe health impairment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study covered a total of 124 patients operated on in the then Clinic of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical Academy of Lodz, in 1996-2001, because of fractures involving the inferior orbital wall including zygomatico-maxillo-orbital fractures (95 cases) and isolated orbital floor fractures (29 cases). The group was analyzed in a statistical and descriptive manner. RESULTS: All the study patients (100%) with both types of fractures involving the inferior orbital wall exhibit symptoms and disorders which, pursuant to the PC, would constitute at least moderate, or possibly even severe, impairment to health. CONCLUSIONS: Punches or kicks to the orbital region create a real danger of causing both types of orbital fracture under study, and resulting in at least moderate health impairment.
The paper illustrates a difficult case of personal identification of the remains of two construction workers, severely charred and calcined because of very high temperatures caused by an explosion of a high pressure gas...The paper illustrates a difficult case of personal identification of the remains of two construction workers, severely charred and calcined because of very high temperatures caused by an explosion of a high pressure gas pipeline. In both cases, genetic and odontological examinations were conducted for the purpose of victim identification. Genetic tests made it possible to identify the remains of one of the casualties. In the other case, however, identification was impossible on account of complete destruction of the victim's genetic material, which is typical of long-term exposure to extremely high temperatures (similar to cremation). Ultimately, the remains were identified on the basis of odontological examinations following the retrieval of the victim's ante-mortem dental records. The presented case shows that dental examinations can be an alternative to genetic tests and dactyloscopy. Unfortunately, the value of forensic odontology is Poland is still underestimated. The paper also addresses the issue of retrieval of ante-mortem dental records in Poland.
Self-strangulation should be cautiously determined following a comprehensive death investigation because the circumstance of strangulation is usually homicide. The deceased was a 33-year-old male who suffered from depres...Self-strangulation should be cautiously determined following a comprehensive death investigation because the circumstance of strangulation is usually homicide. The deceased was a 33-year-old male who suffered from depression and was found missing from a psychiatric unit while on treatment. The deceased was found the following day in the doctors' car park of the unit. The deceased was in a prone position with a strip of material from the sarong he was wearing round his neck and features of strangulation. Scene investigation and autopsy with the history of psychiatric disease confirmed self-strangulation. The rarity of self-strangulation, especially in a hospital, and the ligature material used being a strip of material from the sarong he was wearing inspired us to report this case.
Self-inflicted abdominal injuries are uncommon. Fatal self-inflicted abdominal injury is a rare occurrence, especially as a custodial death. A prisoner under-trial for attempted suicide was in judicial custody and was fo...Self-inflicted abdominal injuries are uncommon. Fatal self-inflicted abdominal injury is a rare occurrence, especially as a custodial death. A prisoner under-trial for attempted suicide was in judicial custody and was found unconscious in a pool of blood in the bathroom with cut open abdomen and exposed coils of intestine. The bathroom was found locked from inside and had to be forcibly opened. In spite of immediate hospitalisation and appropriate emergency surgical treatment, he succumbed on the same day. As the person had previously made several futile attempts to commit suicide and was in fact under trial for the crime of attempted suicide (section 309 of Indian Penal Code), the prison authorities had already taken good precautions to prevent access to any type of weapon, instrument, or material that could rekindle the thought of another attempt. In spite of all this, he successfully committed suicide with an apparently innocuous object, a disposable razor. This case is reported for the rarity of occurrence of this type of suicide, and it highlights the importance of utmost precautions to be taken in dealing with prisoners having suicidal tendencies.
INTRODUCTION: In medicolegal practice, rare cases associated with suicidal, criminal or accidental overdose of insulin are both analytically and forensically challenging. The determination of insulin in post-mortem blood...INTRODUCTION: In medicolegal practice, rare cases associated with suicidal, criminal or accidental overdose of insulin are both analytically and forensically challenging. The determination of insulin in post-mortem blood has limited diagnostic value, mainly on account of post-mortem chemical degradation processes (particularly hemolysis), and hence is not useful in medicolegal practice. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aims of the study were: 1) to assess the usefulness of the immunoradiometric method, used in clinical practice, for post-mortem measurement of insulin concentration in the intraocular fluid, 2) to preliminarily evaluate the usefulness of the obtained results for toxicological and medicolegal assessment, and 3) to verify on the basis of our own material the validity of the cited literature data on the effect of hemolysis on the result of insulin level determination in post-mortem blood. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study material consisted of 93 samples of intraocular fluid collected during consecutive medicolegal autopsies performed in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. In addition, 10 samples of peripheral blood taken from living people (5 women and 5 men) for clinical and diagnostic purposes were analyzed. Insulin(e) IRMA KIT from IMMUNOTECH was used for the analyses. RESULTS: In 86 (92.5%) samples, the insulin concentration was below the analytical sensitivity of the method (less than 0.5 μIU/ml), while in 7 cases it was in the range of 1.42-24.42 μIU/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of the insulin level in the intraocular fluid by the immunoradiometric method provides an opportunity for objective verification of poisoning, however this claim requires further research.