Transcript autopsy - Cengage Learning

Chapter 8
Autopsy
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved
Introduction—Objectives
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Discuss the history of coroners and medical
examiners.
Describe the steps of a death investigation.
Discuss how laboratory tests are used to determine
the contributing factors that led to someone’s
death.
Compare and contrast collection of biological and
nonbiological evidence during an autopsy.
Describe the organization and structure of the
autopsy report.
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved
Introduction—Vocabulary
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algor mortis - postmortem (after death)
cooling of the body
autopsy - a postmortem examination of the
body, including dissection to determine
cause of death
cluster - a group of wounds
postmortem interval (PMI) – the interval of
time between when death occurs and the
body is discovered
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved
Madison Rutherford
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In 1998, Rutherford drove his car off the road.
The car caught fire and Rutherford died.
A $7 million life insurance policy would go to his wife,
but only after an investigation.
An autopsy revealed:
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the skull fragments were in an unlikely position
the bones indicated arthritis
the dentures records didn’t match
Rutherford faked his death.
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved
Introduction
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When the cause of death is unclear or
suspicious:
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the government requires a death investigation
performed by the medical examiner or the coroner
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Introduction
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By law, deaths occurring under these circumstances
must be investigated:
• Violent crime, suicide, or accident
• Within 24 hours of entering a hospital or having
surgery
• A natural death when a doctor is not present or the
patient is not under the care of a medical facility
• Occurs in police custody or in a correctional facility
• Results from a communicable disease that may
pose a threat to public health.
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Introduction
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Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Historical Events (Obj 8.1)
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Two systems of death investigation exist in
the US
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The coroner system dates to 12C England;
sometimes the position:
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The medical examiner system dates back to 1870
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is an elected official
requires a medical doctor
requires a forensic pathologist.
an experienced physician with
advanced training in pathology
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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A Death Investigation (Obj 8.2, 8.3, 8.4)
1. A preliminary investigation is conducted at
the death scene.
2. The body is transported to the morgue,
where the medical examiner examines the
body and performs an autopsy.
3. The medical examiner orders lab tests on
biological evidence collected during the
autopsy.
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Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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At the Death Scene
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Draw sketches of the body at the scene
Take photographs of
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the scene
the victim’s face
the underside of the body
Document signs of trauma
Estimate time of death
Postmortem Interval (PMI)
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Postmortem Interval
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The time between the death and the
discovery of the body
Evaluate livor mortis and rigor mortis
Look for scene markers
Collect evidence
Establish a chain of custody
Interview the victim’s family
Check medical records and police reports
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved
Medical Examination
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Arrival at the morgue
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Update the chain of custody:
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when the body arrives,
who transported the body, and
who received the body
Cause of death
Mechanism of death
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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External Examination
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Investigate clothing and body
Order X-rays
Biological evidence—material from living or
once-living sources
Nonbiological evidence—material from
nonliving sources
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved
Autopsy
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Algor mortis—postmortem cooling of the
body
Temperature generally falls 1.5ºF every hour
until the body reaches ambient temperature
Determine body temperature
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At the crime scene—rectally
At the crime lab—in the liver
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Autopsy
Time since death (in hours) =
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Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Autopsy
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Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Collecting Evidence
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Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved
Collecting Evidence
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Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Collecting Evidence
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Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Evidence
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Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Laboratory Analysis
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Toxicology—the science related to the
detection of drugs, alcohol, and poisons
Histology—the study of tissues
Neuropathology—the study of disease and
trauma associated with the nervous system
Serology—the study of blood, semen, and
other body fluids (for legal matters)
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved
Toxicology
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Alcohol—gas chromatography
Barbiturates and narcotics
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Presumptive screening—urine immunoassay
Confirmatory test—gas chromatography-mass
spectrometry
Tranquilizers—gas chromatography
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Histology
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Slice tissue into very thin sheets
Stain the tissue samples
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Eosin (acidic)—for basic structures;
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Cytoplasm appears pink
Red blood cells appear bright red
Hematoxylin—binds to structures (e.g., ribosomes
and the nucleus)
Together—detect cancers
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Histology
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Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Neuropathology
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More than half of all deaths encountered by
medical examiners are associated with the
nervous system
Common examinations:
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Brain trauma
Brain cancer
Alzheimer’s
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Serology
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A forensic serologist may investigate:
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Infections caused by blood-borne pathogens
Blood-typing
DNA profiles
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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The Autopsy Report (Obj 8.5)
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Heading
External Examination
Evidence of Injury
Internal Examination
Findings and Opinion
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
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Autopsy
Report
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Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved
Chapter Summary
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In the US, the coroner or the medical
examiner leads the death investigation when
the cause of death is unclear or suspicious.
Manner of death is classified as:
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natural,
accidental,
suicide,
homicide, or
undetermined.
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved
Chapter Summary
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The three steps of a death investigation
include:
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determination of the events that surrounded and
led to the death,
internal and external examination, and
laboratory analysis.
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved
Chapter Summary
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An autopsy is performed if the cause of death
is not known in order to:
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document injuries,
exclude other causes of death, and
determine factors that contributed to death.
Biological evidence is material from sources
that are living or were once living.
Nonbiological evidence is material from
nonliving sources.
Forensic Science II: Autopsy, Chapter 8
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved