A fatal case of drowning under the influence of multiple psychotropic drugs, such as quetiapine, escitalopram, aripiprazole and flunitrazepam, is presented. Quantitative toxicological analysis of a femoral blood sample r...A fatal case of drowning under the influence of multiple psychotropic drugs, such as quetiapine, escitalopram, aripiprazole and flunitrazepam, is presented. Quantitative toxicological analysis of a femoral blood sample revealed concentrations of quetiapine, escitalopram, aripiprazole and 7-aminoflunitrazepam (a metabolite of flunitrazepam) of 1.266 µg/ml, 0.609 µg/ml, 0.124 µg/ml and 0.055 µg/ml, respectively. From the autopsy findings, results of toxicological examination and investigation by the authorities, we concluded that the cause of death was drowning under the influence of mainly quetiapine and escitalopram.
Car accident victims commonly report cervical spine distortion as their injury. Problems with proving this kind of injury, including its effects, come to light in insurance claims adjustment, and if the tortfeasor driver...Car accident victims commonly report cervical spine distortion as their injury. Problems with proving this kind of injury, including its effects, come to light in insurance claims adjustment, and if the tortfeasor driver or the insurer refuses to pay compensation or general damages, such problems should be resolved in court. This paper discusses legal issues involved in proving whiplash-associated disorders under the law as it stood before 7 November 2019 and after the rules of civil procedure were amended.
The aim of the study is to describe practical application of criteria for whiplash injury evaluation based on a biomechanical simulation of human movement. The analysis of forces applied to the passenger's body in an acc...The aim of the study is to describe practical application of criteria for whiplash injury evaluation based on a biomechanical simulation of human movement. The analysis of forces applied to the passenger's body in an accident estimated using such a simulation can serve as additional verification of opinions formulated by forensic experts in cases involving whiplash injuries. The study discusses the method of biomechanical simulation using the PC-Crash software as well as a neck injury criterion (NIC) and export of simulation results to determine NIC values. The above-mentioned method is to estimate the probability of whiplash injuries in a given case based on technical parameters of the crash. Such methods are complementary to forensic examinations and should be routinely included in comprehensive forensic expert opinions and technical reconstructions of traffic incidents. This additional method of analyzing the likelihood of whiplash injuries may serve as a basis for formulating conclusions in opinions implying a higher likelihood.
Whiplash injury (distortion of the cervical spine) is the most commonly diagnosed type of injury sustained in car accidents, and it ranks first in the structure of compensation claims for personal injury resulting from t...Whiplash injury (distortion of the cervical spine) is the most commonly diagnosed type of injury sustained in car accidents, and it ranks first in the structure of compensation claims for personal injury resulting from traffic incidents. The verification of whiplash-associated disorders (WADs) continues to be a great problem in the formulation of medico- legal expert opinions, as injuries of this type, cannot, by definition, be captured using available imaging methods ("radiologically negative effects of acceleration/deceleration mechanism with a wide variety of clinical manifestations"). The present study aims to define a set of criteria that might represent threshold conditions for WAD verification, enabling preliminary cohorting (preselection) of evaluated cases and facilitating the adoption of legal decisions. The available scientific literature addressing problems relating to WAD verification was reviewed to identify factors that differentiate an extremely broad spectrum and varying severity of symptoms depending on the circumstances of incidents, the results of physical evaluation of patients and additional instrumental examinations, as well as technical indicators. Based on the literature search, a range of criteria with the highest potential significance for application in routine medical and forensic expert practice were selected (with a focus on aspects related to verification, quantification and outcomes). The primary prerequisite for recognising the presence of moderate impairment to health (according to the Polish penal code) due to distortion of the cervical spine should involve confirmation of grade 3 WAD according to the Quebec Task Force (QTF) classification, and exceeding the threshold values of Δv (> 15 km/h), acceleration of the victim's vehicle centre of gravity (> 4 g), and NIC criterion (> 15 m2/s2). Additional criteria used by experts should include the verification of the correct head restraint position as well as results of biomechanical examinations evaluating the level of safety of a given vehicle, and epidemiological data retrieved from databases including the statistics for claims filed by victims of real-life accidents.
The human body is often used for illegal drug trafficking around the world. This may be done by concealing the drugs inside the body, so-called "body packing". This can lead to life-threatening conditions, mainly by leak...The human body is often used for illegal drug trafficking around the world. This may be done by concealing the drugs inside the body, so-called "body packing". This can lead to life-threatening conditions, mainly by leakage of the illegal substances in lethal amounts into the circulation system, which may cause fatal consequences due to acute drug overdose. Most of these cases present as sudden unexpected deaths. However, we present herein a case in which the death of an unidentified victim, which was notified as a case of seawater drowning in a non-suspicious manner, but later proved to be the death of a body packer as a result of drowning due to a morphine overdose. This case highlights the importance of investigating deaths even in unidentified bodies and the different presentations of fatal consequences of a body packer, which previously have not been described in literature.
AIM OF THE STUDY: 1) evaluation of the frequency of occurrence of traces and injuries on hands of persons firing firearms, 2) detailed description of types of traces and injuries as mentioned above, 3) detailed evaluatio...AIM OF THE STUDY: 1) evaluation of the frequency of occurrence of traces and injuries on hands of persons firing firearms, 2) detailed description of types of traces and injuries as mentioned above, 3) detailed evaluation of the mechanism of their arising in respect to types of firearms and ammunition, and the way of holding firearms during shooting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material consisted of 8 cases in which traces or injuries were found on the upper limbs of the person firing the shot. A total of 217 firearms, including 68 pneumatic firearms, were tested during the period under investigation, with approximately 1100 sample test shots. RESULTS: Traces and injuries were only revealed in about 5% of all shots fired from a particular type of firearm. They were not found in the case of pneumatic firearms. The lesions took the form of singeing, gunpowder tattooing, and various shapes of epidermal abrasions and superficial wounds caused by moving elements of firearms (lock, hammer). Some of them reflected the design of the moving parts of the firearms. CONCLUSIONS: In criminal and forensic medical practice, detailed knowledge of the type and mechanism of traces and injuries on the shooter's hands may have significant evidential value in cases concerning the use of firearms. The results of this analysis confirm the need for further study and observation in this area.
One of the main problems encountered in medico-legal assessment of injuries suffered as a result of falling from a height is the discrimination between the effects of accidental and suicidal falls. The aim of the study w...One of the main problems encountered in medico-legal assessment of injuries suffered as a result of falling from a height is the discrimination between the effects of accidental and suicidal falls. The aim of the study was to verify the prevalence of injuries involving different regions of the osteoarticular system in groups of victims of attempted suicide and fatal accidents according to the method proposed by Teh et al. The study material consisted of the findings of extended post-mortem examinations of 114 victims of falls from a height, which were conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine in Lublin. The post-mortem results were compared with the data found in corresponding prosecutorial case files. The results of the study indicate a higher prevalence of osteoarticular injuries within the pelvis and lower limbs in the group of suicide victims, which correlates with the results reported by Teh et al. An analysis of injuries in different body regions in accordance with the reported method can be useful in determining the circumstances of falling from a height.
The present report is a follow-up to our previous studies on the determination of the height of fatal falls, and it is focused on the verification of the method developed by Lau et al. The study group was extended to a t...The present report is a follow-up to our previous studies on the determination of the height of fatal falls, and it is focused on the verification of the method developed by Lau et al. The study group was extended to a total of 109 individuals, and the height of fall of each victim was calculated using the mathematical formula put forward by Lau et al. The heights of falls calculated with the formula referred to above were significantly different (in 72.5% of cases) from the actual heights, which points to limited reliability of the method under evaluation.
AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the paper is analysis of the impact of immobilization treatment of "less severe" motor organ injuries affecting soft tissues on the position of medical experts and court decisions in crimes a...AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the paper is analysis of the impact of immobilization treatment of "less severe" motor organ injuries affecting soft tissues on the position of medical experts and court decisions in crimes against health. We also analysed the attitude of courts to expert opinions and present a proposal for a model of judicial and medical opinion in such cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the study, we analysed judgments of the criminal divisions of common courts, in which the use of medical immobilization of a given part of the body or lack thereof could have an impact on the degree of health impairment determined by the medical expert. RESULTS: Some experts consider medical immobilization to be tantamount to an impairment of the function of a body organ, and the courts rarely reject such opinions. For some experts, the key is not the actual function of the immobilized part of the musculoskeletal system after 7 days from injury, but the immobilization treatment itself, and not the time it takes. In addition, experts determine the severity of injuries when immobilization is/is not used. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of health impairment, as defined in the Penal Code, should be determined by a medical check-up carried out 7 days after the injury, with an assessment of its "biological" effects, and not by the use of immobilization treatment and the time for which it is maintained.
AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to assess the suitability of vitreous humour (VH) for determining alcoholaemia in deceased bodies. The study presents a correlation between the content of ethyl alcohol in vitre...AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to assess the suitability of vitreous humour (VH) for determining alcoholaemia in deceased bodies. The study presents a correlation between the content of ethyl alcohol in vitreous humour and the concentration of ethyl alcohol in venous blood (femoral blood - FB). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study material consisted of blood and vitreous humour samples taken from 62 individuals who died in the period 2012-2016 and whose post-mortem examinations were carried out at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok. The content of alcohol was determined using the method of gas chromatography (GC). The findings of the study were analyzed statistically with MF Excel and Statistica 12.5, and then presented in a descriptive form, including figures and charts. RESULTS: Statistical analysis did not reveal significant differences between the concentration of ethanol in VH and FB. Spearman's correlation between the concentration of ethanol in the materials under study was r = 0.96, p < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated no statistically significant differences between the concentration of alcohol in VH and in FB. Consequently, vitreous humour can be used as a reliable alternative material in cases where there is no possibility of collecting venous blood for toxicological tests.
AIM OF THE STUDY: Genetic tests play a crucial role in the crime investigation process and often provide the strongest evidence for case resolution. Although the majority of genetic analyses in the field of criminalistic...AIM OF THE STUDY: Genetic tests play a crucial role in the crime investigation process and often provide the strongest evidence for case resolution. Although the majority of genetic analyses in the field of criminalistics focus on the human DNA, genetic identification of animals is becoming an increasingly common procedure. Domestic animals, which live around people, may be silent witnesses and even victims of criminal activity. Their typically limited value as evidence in such cases could radically change thanks to the possibility of using animal biological material present at the crime scene. In addition to forensic medicine, genetic identification methods of this type may also become a valuable tool in many other areas of life. Recently, there has been an increase in public interest in verifying the pedigree of animals, investigating poaching and illegal shooting of animals, e.g. protected wildcats and lynx, as well as illegal trade in animals. The main aims of the studies reported in this paper were to assess the degree of polymorphism of the analyzed STR markers in feline genetic material, and to perform a preliminary evaluation of their suitability for developing an original feline genetic identification test. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The studies involved an analysis of genetic material samples obtained from a population consisting of 123 unrelated cats representing various domestic cat breeds, living in the Lower Silesia region. The material collected from individual cats in the form of blood drops or buccal swabs was subjected to an analysis of five STR markers forming a single multiplex assay (FCA742, FCA744, F124, FCA732, FCA749). RESULTS: The results obtained for each marker separately were analyzed statistically and, using the 2 test, the concordance of the study population with the Hardy-Weinberg principle was evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate a significant potential of the analyzed markers for the development of genetic identification tests.
This paper, as the third of the series, is devoted to gauge ammunition, which may be a problem in ballistic opinions. The paper reviews existing cartridges of the type used in smoothbore weapons (bullet cartridges, non-p...This paper, as the third of the series, is devoted to gauge ammunition, which may be a problem in ballistic opinions. The paper reviews existing cartridges of the type used in smoothbore weapons (bullet cartridges, non-penetrating, compressed powder, flash-bang, signal, adapter-type, and training cartridges). The paper also presents homemade special cases of gauge ammunition, as well as ammunition used for "peculiar" purposes. The second part of the paper discusses other uses of specialty gauge ammunition, specifically its use as mortar ammunition, propelling charges, pyrotechnic tools, and to start combustion engines.
The author attempts to present Professor Jakliński paying particular attention to what created such a great personality of Polish forensic medicine. Professor Andrzej Jakliński grew up in difficult times, which required...The author attempts to present Professor Jakliński paying particular attention to what created such a great personality of Polish forensic medicine. Professor Andrzej Jakliński grew up in difficult times, which required a lot of sacrifice, even self-sacrifice and making choices that not always depended on him. That is why this article focuses on Professor Jakliński's childhood and adolescence, his escape from the Russian occupation zone to the German General Government, as well as the battles which he fought within the structures of the Home Army against the Germans and the incident that determined his life and brought him to Lublin.
The psychophysical impairment of drivers caused by psychoactive substances is still a common and important factor in road accidents. While in the case of ethyl alcohol the initial detection of drivers who have consumed a...The psychophysical impairment of drivers caused by psychoactive substances is still a common and important factor in road accidents. While in the case of ethyl alcohol the initial detection of drivers who have consumed alcohol is not a problem due to the widespread use of breathalyzers, other psychoactive substances are a problem. These substances are a group of numerous, variously acting and regularly growing compounds. In this publication, the authors have reviewed the methods used worldwide for the initial detection of psychoactive substances, i.e. saliva testers and elements of the medical examination grouped into test kits, which can be used as part of routine police control, and have also assessed their usefulness. New methods of detection based on the evaluation of pupils and eyeball mobility, which are still in the process of improvement, were also discussed.