learning objectives
Explain the forensic importance of examining death, and the role of the
Forensic examination of death determines the cause and manner of death for legal and public health purposes. Forensic pathologists perform autopsies and analyze evidence, providing expert opinions for investigations and court.
Identity the questions to be considered, and the steps that need to be taken, during a death-scene investigation
Secure scene, document, collect evidence, examine body, interview witnesses.
Adipocere
a fatty or waxy substance produced during the decomposition of dead bodies exposed to moisture
Autopsy
a medical examination to determine the cause of death
Mechanism
of death the specific physiological,
coroner, medical examiner, and pathologist in death investigations Describe how the examination of death in early history compares to our approach today.
A coroner investigates deaths, a medical examiner is a physician investigating deaths, and a pathologist studies disease, often performing autopsies. Early death investigations were less scientific and relied on witness statements, while today's approach uses scientific methods and medical expertise.
Explain what is involved in the forensic analysis of a deceased body, including conducting the autopsy, establishing a postmortem interval, and determining a probable cause of death.
Autopsy: External and internal exams.
PMI: Estimate time since death.
Cause of death: Correlate findings.
Algor
mortis the cooling of the body after death
Decomposition
the breakdown of once-living matter
proximate cause of death
the underlying cause of death that leads to the certification of the death
Discuss manner, cause, and mechanism of death, and how "death" itself is defined by experts.
Manner of death is how death occurred (natural, accidental, etc.). Cause of death is the disease or injury that initiated the lethal sequence. Mechanism of death is the physiological derangement that resulted in death. Experts define death as irreversible cessation of circulatory, respiratory, or brain functions.
Summarize how new technologies are improving death investigations.
3D scanning and imaging, advanced DNA analysis, and digital forensics improve death investigations.
Autolysis
the breakdown of cells as they self-digest
"autopsy a medical examination to determine the cause of death
Forensic pathologist
a medical doctor specifically trained to perform autopsies to determine the presence or absence of disease, injury, or poisoning
Rigor Mortis
the stiffening of the skeletal muscles after death
Explain the predictable sequence of changes that occur during the process of death, including algor, rigor, and livor mortis.
Algor mortis is the cooling of the body. Rigor mortis is the stiffening of muscles. Livor mortis is the discoloration of skin from blood pooling. These help estimate time of death.
Estimate postmortem intervals based on evidence from proposed death scenes.
Estimating the postmortem interval uses body temperature, rigor mortis, livor mortis, insect activity, and environmental conditions.
cause of death
the injury, condition, or disease responsible for a person's death (such as heart attack or kidney failure)
Ivor Mortis
the pooling of the blood in tissues after death due to gravity that results in a red skin color
Putrefaction
the destruction of soft tissue by bacteria that results in the release of waste gases and fluids
Describe the chemical and physical changes that occur during the stages of decomposition, and how they provide evidence in the examination of death.
Autolysis is self-digestion of cells. Putrefaction is breakdown of tissues by bacteria. Physical changes include bloating and skin slippage. Chemical changes release gases. These changes help determine time of death and circumstances.
Analyze data collected from a simulated model of a human body to determine rate of heat loss over a 24-hour period.
Record initial body temperature and ambient temperature. Measure body temperature at regular intervals for 24 hours. Calculate the temperature difference. Use Newton's Law of Cooling: dT/dt = k(T - Ta) to estimate heat loss rate. Plot the temperature change over time.
coroner
an elected official, either a layman or a physician, who certifies deaths and can order aditional investigations of suspicious deaths
Manner of death
one of five ways in which a person's death is classified (i.e., natural, accidental, suicidal, homicidal, or undetermined)
medical examiner
a physician who performs autopsies, determines the cause and manner of death, and oversees death investigations