FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

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FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

• Nancy L. Jones, M.D.
• Chief Medical Examiner
• Cook County

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WARNINGTHE MATERIAL PRESENTED IN THIS LECTURE IS
GRAPHIC AND MAY BE CONSIDERED OBJECTIONABLE BY
MANY
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FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

• MEDICAL EXAMINER
• CORONER

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FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

• INVESTIGATION OF DEATHS THAT ARE SUDDEN AND
  UNEXPECTED
• INVESTIGATION OF DEATHS UNDER SUSPICIOUS
  CIRCUMSTANCES
• INVESTIGATION OF DEATHS THAT MAY POSE A RISK TO
  PUBLIC HEALTH
• INVESTIGATION OF ALL ACCIDENTAL AND UNNATURAL
  DEATHS

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FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

• DEFINITIONS
• Cause of death disease or injury responsible
  for death
• Time interval between cause and death may be
  brief or prolonged

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FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

• DEFINITIONS
• Mechanism or Mode of Death the chemobiodynamic
  change produced by the cause of death which is
  incompatible with continued life.
• Exsanguination
• Asphyxiation
• Infarction

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FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

• Manner of Death the way in which the cause of
  death comes into existence
• Natural death due to natural disease
• Accident death due to unintended event (s)
  caused by actions of victim or another
• Homicide death at the hand of another where
  action is known to be lethal or potentially
  lethal
• Suicide death at ones own hand
• Undetermined not enough information to make
  determination

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FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

• Cause of death may be primary or contributing
  factor to the death
• If primary cause is a natural disease process,
  than manner is natural
• If primary cause is a natural disease but
  contributing cause is unnatural, than manner
  determined by contributing cause

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FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

• Deaths due to natural disease
• Deaths due to alcohol and drugs
• Deaths due to asphyxia
• Deaths due to gunshot and shotgun injury
• Deaths due to sharp injury
• Deaths due to blunt trauma
• Deaths due to motor vehicle accidents
• Deaths due to thermal injury and electricity

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FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

• THE AUTOPSY
• External examination
• Review of radiographs
• Examination of personal effects and clothing
• Documentation of injury, disease and individual
  characteristics
• Photographic documentation
• Collection of trace evidence

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The Autopsy
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FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

• THE AUTOPSY
• Internal examination
• Review of body systems
• Documentation of injury and/or disease
• Collection of specimens for toxicology
• Collection of evidence
• Photographic documentation

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DEATHS DUE TO NATURAL DISEASE
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Arcus senilis
Earlobe creases
Coronary artery with atherosclerosis and an
acute thrombus
xanthalesmata
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Ruptured myocardial infarction anomalous
coronary artery
Ventricular septal defect acute viral
myocarditis
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Peritonitis and acute appendicitis
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Volvulus
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Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
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Gross and microscopic appearance of pneumonia
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DEATHS DUE TO ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
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Acute hemorrhagic gastritis ascitis Cirrhosis
fatty liver Wernickes encephalitis
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(No Transcript)
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Cocaine
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Cocaine
Aborted fetus Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Cocaine in nostril Perforated nasal septum
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Heroin
abscess
Foam cone bacterial endocarditis
Tracks and recent needle mark drugs in
colon brain abscess
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Inhalants
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Therapeutic agents
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DEATHS DUE TO ASPHYXIA
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Foam cone air embolus
adipocere
Algae in skin
Abrasions on hand from Sand in lake and on shore
Drowning
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Hanging
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Smothering
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Strangulation
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Exclusion of oxygen
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Positional and Compressional asphyxia
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DEATHS DUE TO GUNSHOT AND SHOTGUN INJURY
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Gunshot Entrance Wounds
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Gunshot Exit Wounds
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Graze Wound
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Shotgun Wounds
Contact range Close range
Distant range X ray appearance
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DEATHS DUE TO SHARP INJURY
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Stab Wounds
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Incised Wounds
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Chop Wounds
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DEATHS DUE TO BLUNT TRAUMA
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Abrasions
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Contusions
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Lacerations
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Subdural Hematoma and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
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Patterned Injury
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Bite Marks
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Forensic Pathology

• Deaths due to thermal injury
• Heat
• Cold
• Death due to electricity and lightening

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Thermal Injury
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Hypothermia
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Electrical and Lightening
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FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

• Examination of decomposed and skeletal remains
• Identification problems

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Decomposed Bodies
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Skeletal Remains
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Identification Problems
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DNA TECHNOLOGY

• Identification problems
• Victim
• Offender
• Paternity
• Specimens
• Blood
• Muscle
• Spleen
• Bone marrow
• Teeth

• Rape
• Oral swabs
• Vaginal swabs
• Rectal swabs
• Saliva
• Preservation
• Freeze at -20º C if there is any delay
  anticipated

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DNA TECHNOLOGY

• RFLP
• PC
• Y-STRs (detects male DNA component)
• Problems with contamination

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• THANK YOU