LCR4801/101/3/2014
Tutorial letter 101/3/2014
Forensic Medicine
LCR4801
Semesters 1 & 2
Department of Criminal and Procedural Law
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.
CONTENTS
Page
1
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 4
2
PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MODULE............................................................... 4
2.1
Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 4
2.2
Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 4
3
LECTURERS AND CONTACT DETAILS ..................................................................................... 5
3.1
Lecturer and course coordinator ................................................................................................... 5
3.2
Department ................................................................................................................................... 5
3.3
University ...................................................................................................................................... 6
4
MODULE-RELATED RESOURCES ............................................................................................. 6
4.1
The inventory letter ....................................................................................................................... 6
4.2
The study material itself ................................................................................................................ 6
4.2.1
A study guide ................................................................................................................................ 6
4.2.2
Tutorial Letter 101 ......................................................................................................................... 7
4.2.3
Other tutorial letters ...................................................................................................................... 7
4.3
Prescribed books .......................................................................................................................... 7
4.4
Recommended books ................................................................................................................... 7
4.5
Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves)................................................................................................. 7
4.6
Terminology .................................................................................................................................. 7
5
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MODULE ............................................................... 7
5.1
General ......................................................................................................................................... 7
5.2
Contact with fellow students.......................................................................................................... 8
5.2.1
Study groups................................................................................................................................. 8
5.2.2
myUnisa........................................................................................................................................ 8
6
ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 8
6.1
Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 8
6.1.1
Admission to the examination ....................................................................................................... 8
6.1.2
The semester mark ....................................................................................................................... 8
6.1.3
The division between the semester mark and the examination mark............................................. 9
6.1.4
Feedback on the assignments ...................................................................................................... 9
6.2
General assignment numbers ....................................................................................................... 9
6.2.1
Unique assignment numbers ........................................................................................................ 9
6.2.2
Due dates for assignments ........................................................................................................... 9
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LCR4801/101
6.3
Submission of assignments ........................................................................................................ 10
6.4
Assignments ............................................................................................................................... 10
6.4.1
The compulsory assignments ..................................................................................................... 10
6.4.2
Warning against plagiarism ......................................................................................................... 10
6.4.3
Assignment 01 Semester 1 Unique number: 777641 ................................................................. 11
6.4.4
Assignment 02 Semester 1 Unique number: 863617 ................................................................. 11
6.4.5
Assignment 01 Semester 2 Unique number: 789240 ................................................................. 15
6.4.6
Assignment 02 Semester 2 Unique number: 858492 ................................................................. 15
7
OTHER ASSESSMENT METHODS ........................................................................................... 19
8
EXAMINATION ........................................................................................................................... 19
8.1
Admission to the examination ..................................................................................................... 19
8.2
The division between the semester mark and the examination mark........................................... 19
8.3
The examination period .............................................................................................................. 19
8.4
The examination paper ............................................................................................................... 19
8.5
The supplementary/aegrotat examination ................................................................................... 19
8.6
Suggestions on how to approach the examination ...................................................................... 20
8.7
Tutorial letter with information on the examination ...................................................................... 20
9
CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................ 21
3
1
INTRODUCTION
Dear Student
Welcome to the module in Forensic Medicine which, we are sure, you will find interesting and of
practical value. We will do our best to make your study of this module successful. You will be
well on your way to success if you start studying early in the semester and resolve to do the
assignments properly.
This tutorial letter contains important information concerning this module. We urge you to read it
carefully and to keep it at hand when working through the study material, doing assignments,
preparing for the examination and putting questions to your lecturers.
This tutorial letter also provides all the relevant information with regard to the prescribed study
material and how to obtain it. In this letter you will find the assignments for the year and
instructions on how to prepare for and submit the assignments. Study that information very
carefully.
We have included some general and administrative information. Make a careful study of that
section of the tutorial letter as well.
We should also like to point out that you must read all the tutorial letters that you receive
during the year immediately and carefully — these letters always contain important, and
sometimes urgent, information.
It is important to use myUnisa and the internet regularly. You must be registered on myUnisa to
be able to submit assignments, gain access to the Library functions and various learning
resources, download study material, ―chat‖ to your lecturers and fellow students about your
studies and the challenges you encounter, and participate in online discussion forums. Thanks
to myUnisa you can take part in activities and discussions of relevance to the module topics,
assignments, marks and examinations.
We hope that you will enjoy this module and wish you all the best with your studies!
2
PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MODULE
2.1
Purpose
The purpose of this module is to equip students with a sound knowledge of and insight into the
most important aspects of forensic medicine, as well as with basic research skills in the practice
of law.
2.2
Outcomes
After having studied this module students should be able to —
4

identify and understand the role of selected aspects of forensic medicine in current
South African law and in our courts in a practical everyday context;

demonstrate an understanding of the practical implications of the medico-legal
findings and reports upon which testimony is regularly based in our courts;
LCR4801/101

apply selected principles of forensic medicine in practical situations, and solve
multidimensional practical problems associated with the role played by expert
evidence given by forensic pathologists in our courts;

conduct research.
3
LECTURERS AND CONTACT DETAILS
3.1
Lecturer and course coordinator
All queries that are not of a purely administrative nature, but that are about the contents of this
module should be directed to your lecturer. Please have your study material at hand when
contacting us. The lecturer responsible for this course is Professor Izak Loftus. The course
coordinator for this module is Adv LC Coetzee. NOTE THAT ALL QUERIES REGARDING THE
SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS COURSE ARE TO BE DIRECTED TO PROFESSOR LOFTUS.
Professor Loftus’ contact details are as follows:
Professor IAJ Loftus
loftusi@pathcare.co.za
083 625 4852 (week days from 15:00)
Fax 021 851 6240
Please note: You may contact Professor Loftus by telephone on weekdays from 15:00 onwards
on the number indicated above.
You may contact Adv LC Coetzee, the course coordinator, in connection with administrative
matters specifically pertaining to this module.
Adv Coetzee’s contact details are as follows:
Adv LC Coetzee
Cas van Vuuren Building 8–82
coetzlc@unisa.ac.za
012 429 8602
3.2
Department
This module is offered within the Department of Criminal and Procedural Law. Should you wish
to get in touch with the Department, you may contact the departmental liaison officer at 012 429
4995.
5
3.3
University
If you need to contact the University about matters not related to the contents of this module,
please consult the publication my Studies @ Unisa that you received with your study material.
This brochure contains information on how to contact the University (e.g. to whom you can write
for different queries, important telephone and fax numbers, addresses and details of the times
certain facilities are open).
You may also contact the School of Law directly about registrations and other
administrative matters by dialling either of the following numbers 012 429 6166 or 012 429
4105.
Always have your student number at hand when contacting the University.
4
MODULE-RELATED RESOURCES
4.1
The inventory letter
You should have received an inventory letter telling you what you have received in your study
package and also showing items that are still outstanding. Also see the brochure entitled my
Studies @ Unisa.
Check the study material you received against the inventory letter. You should have received all
the items specified in the inventory, unless there is a note such as ―out of stock‖ or ―not
available‖.
4.2
The study material itself
The study material for this module, which should be supplied to you by Unisa’s Department of
Despatch, consists of the following:

One study guide

Tutorial letters 101 (this tutorial letter) and 301 at registration

Further tutorial letters
If you have access to the internet you can view the study guides and tutorial letters for the
modules for which you have registered on the University’s online campus, myUnisa, at
http://my.unisa.ac.za.
Some of this study material may not have been available when you registered. Study material
that was not available when you registered will be posted to you as soon as possible, but is also
available on myUnisa.
4.2.1 A study guide
There is one study guide for this module. The study guide consists of fourteen (14) study units.
Note that certain parts of the study guide need not be studied for the examination – those parts
are indicated as such in the study guide – usually directly below the heading concerned.
Although not prescribed for the examination you should nevertheless read those parts, and
questions may be set on them in the assignments.
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LCR4801/101
4.2.2 Tutorial Letter 101
Tutorial Letter 101 is an extremely important tutorial letter. It contains very important information
regarding the University and the module, as well as all the assignments for this module. You
should therefore study this tutorial letter very carefully.
4.2.3 Other tutorial letters
Apart from Tutorial Letter 101 you will also receive other tutorial letters during the semester.
These tutorial letters will not necessarily be available at the time of registration. They will be
despatched to you as soon as they are available or needed (for instance, for feedback on
assignments).
Tutorial letters form part of your study material. Study each of them carefully, and keep them for
further reference.
4.3
Prescribed books
There are no prescribed books for this module. This means that you do not have to buy any
additional books for the course. You need to study only your study guide and tutorial letters.
4.4
Recommended books
There are no recommended books for this module.
4.5
Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves)
There are no e-Reserves for this module.
4.6
Terminology
Much of the terminology used in the study guide will be new to most of you at first. We have tried
to avoid using too many technical terms, and to explain those we do use in a simple manner. We
advise you, however, to memorise the more important medical terms in order to acquire a basic
medical vocabulary. This will be of tremendous help to you in mastering this subject — from both
an academic and a practical point of view. There are two publications that you will find very
useful for your studies, namely WAN Dorland’s Illustrated medical dictionary (2003) (now in its
30th edition) and WM Levitt’s Short encyclopaedia of medicine for lawyers (1966). Should you
experience any problems with terminology, please do not hesitate to contact your lecturer.
5
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MODULE
5.1
General
For information on the various student-support systems and services available at Unisa (e.g.
student counselling, tutorial classes, language support), please consult the publication entitled
my Studies @ Unisa.
7
5.2
Contact with fellow students
5.2.1 Study groups
It is advisable to form study groups and to have contact with fellow students. The addresses of
students in your area may be obtained from the following department:
Directorate: Student Administration and Registration
PO Box 392
UNISA
0003
5.2.2 myUnisa
If you have access to a computer that is linked to the internet, you can quickly access resources
and information at the University. The myUnisa learner-management system is Unisa's new
virtual campus that helps students to communicate with other students, and also with their
lecturers and the administrative departments of Unisa – all by means of the computer and the
internet.
To go to the myUnisa website, start at the main Unisa website, http://www.unisa.ac.za, and then
click on the ―Log in to myUnisa‖ link on the right-hand side of the screen. This should take you
to the myUnisa website. You can also access the website directly by typing in
http://my.unisa.ac.za.
Please consult the publication entitled my Studies @ Unisa for more information on myUnisa.
6
ASSESSMENT
6.1
Assessment plan
6.1.1 Admission to the examination
There are two compulsory assignments for each semester.
You have to submit Assignment 01 in order to gain admission to the examination. No
subminimum is set for the assignment. You will gain admission to the examination simply by
completing and submitting the assignment in time, regardless of the marks you obtain for the
assignment. (Note that submission of an ―empty assignment‖ (ie an assignment cover without
any answers) will not count as a submission.) Students who do not submit Assignment 01 on or
before the due date will not gain admission to the examination.
Assignment 02 is compulsory in the sense that the mark obtained for it contributes towards the
semester mark.
6.1.2 The semester mark
The average of the marks obtained for the two compulsory assignments will be taken as your
semester mark.
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LCR4801/101
6.1.3 The division between the semester mark and the examination mark
The semester mark constitutes 20% of the final mark for this module, whereas the remaining
80% of the final mark is acquired in the examination.
6.1.4 Feedback on the assignments
You will receive the correct answers automatically for multiple-choice questions. For written
assignments, markers will comment constructively on your work. Commentaries on compulsory
assignments will be sent to all students registered for this module in a follow-up tutorial letter,
and not only to the students who submitted the assignments. The tutorial letter number will be
201 and 202.
Check your answers as soon as you have received the feedback. The assignments and the
feedback on them constitute an important part of your study material for the examination.
6.2
General assignment numbers
As we have already mentioned, there are two compulsory assignments for each semester.
Please do Assignment 01 and Assignment 02 for the particular semester for which you are
registered. Assignments for the two semesters are listed separately and are clearly identified.
6.2.1 Unique assignment numbers
The unique numbers for the assignments are as follows:
First semester

Assignment 01: 777641

Assignment 02: 863617
Second semester

Assignment 01: 789240

Assignment 02: 858492
6.2.2 Due dates for assignments
The due dates for the assignments are as follows:
First semester

10 March 2014 for Assignment 01

01 April 2014 for Assignment 02
Second semester

19 Augustus 2014 for Assignment 01

09 September 2014 for Assignment 02
Note that the above dates are the dates by when the assignments must have reached Unisa.
You must therefore submit your assignments in good time, taking into consideration the time it
takes to send them by post.
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6.3
Submission of assignments
You may submit written assignments and assignments completed on mark-reading sheets
either by post or electronically via myUnisa. Assignments may not be submitted by fax or e-mail.
For detailed information on assignments, please refer to my Studies @ Unisa brochure which
you received with your study package.
To submit an assignment via myUnisa:

Go to myUnisa.

Log in with your student number and password.

Select the module.

Click on ―Assignments‖ in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.

Click on the assignment number you wish to submit.

Follow the instructions.
6.4
Assignments
6.4.1 The compulsory assignments
There are two compulsory assignments per semester. You have to submit Assignment 01 for
the semester for which you are registered in order to obtain admission to the examination (see
6.1.1 above). Assignment 02 also counts towards your final mark.
The first assignment for each semester comprises an essay-type question that you have to
answer in less than 1 200 words.
The second assignment for each semester consists of ten (10) multiple-choice questions.
You have to answer the multiple-choice questions on the mark-reading sheets that were issued
with your study material. As indicated above, you may also submit these assignments via the
Internet. Read the instructions on the use of the mark-reading sheet carefully, as noncompliance with the instructions will mean that the optical reader cannot mark your answers.
6.4.2 Warning against plagiarism
Although students may work together when preparing assignments, each student
must write and submit his or her own individual assignment. In other words, each
student must submit his/her own work in his/her own words. It is unacceptable
for students to submit identical assignments on the basis of them having worked
together. That would amount to plagiarism, and no such assignments will be
marked. Also, the students involved may be penalised or subjected to
disciplinary proceedings by the University.
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LCR4801/101
6.4.3 Assignment 01
Semester 1
Unique number: 777641
Note that this assignment is compulsory for students registered for this module in the FIRST
semester.
The due date for this assignment is 10 March 2014.
The body of a deceased person is retrieved from a river, with the branch of a tree firmly grasped
in his right hand. Discuss how the forensic pathologist must manage this death. The discussion
must include the possible post-mortem findings, the interpretation of these findings, as well as
the possible mechanisms of death.
6.4.4 Assignment 02
Semester 1
Unique number: 863617
Note that this assignment is compulsory for students registered for this module in the FIRST
semester.
The due date for this assignment is 01 April 2014.
Question 1
Which of the following is NOT regarded as an UNNATURAL death?
(1) Death due to tetanus
(2) Death due to snake bite
(3) Death due to acute fatal alcohol intoxication
(4) Death as a result of a subarachnoid haemorrhage due to rupture of a berry aneurism
(5) Death of an individual during an operative procedure
Question 2
Which one of the following statements regarding post mortem changes is correct?
(1) The condition of the stomach contents of the deceased can assist with relative
accuracy in the determination of the post mortem interval.
(2) A body will usually be warm and stiff 20 hours after death.
(3) When a person dies, there is usually a period of time when the core temperature of
the body remains constant before it starts to drop.
(4) A clothed body will cool off more rapidly if the clothes are dry, because wet clothes
will isolate the body more effectively.
(5) Potassium chlorate poisoning results in a grey-bronze discolouration of the body.
11
Question 3
Which one of the following statements regarding blunt trauma is INCORRECT?
(1) Contusions may only appear after a few hours and for this reason it is important that
victims of sexual assault be re-examined 24 hours later for signs of contusions.
(2) Fatty tissue gives elastic support to blood vessels and protects the more obese
individual against the development of contusions.
(3) To differentiate between contusions and hypostasis an incision of the skin must be
performed to determine whether blood is in the surrounding tissue or still limited to
the blood vessels.
(4) Tram-line contusions are usually seen when someone is hit with a rod-like object,
such as a cane.
(5) Abrasions usually surround a laceration due to the damage of the skin surface and
hairs by the blunt object.
Question 4
Which one of the following statements regarding deaths due to asphyxia is correct?
(1) Labourers in the wine industry sometimes die due to alcohol fumes when they enter
wine tanks as the alcohol fumes suppress their respiration.
(2) Mechanical or positional asphyxia is the result of paralysis of the respiratory muscles,
which therefore limits movements of the chest muscles.
(3) In cases of hanging, severe congestion of the face and petechial haemorrhages are
usually prominent.
(4) Due to the drastic electrolyte shifts as a result of the higher salt content, drowning
occurs more rapidly in sea water than fresh water.
(5) Neck holds, including the arm lock grip, are dangerous as they may result inter alia in
neurogenic stimulation due to pressure on the carotid sinus.
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LCR4801/101
Question 5
Extradural haemorrhages are common traumatic intracranial haemorrhages. Which one of the
following statements is correct?
(1) Extradural haemorrhages are present between the dura mater and the leptomeninges
(arachnoid mater).
(2) There is usually a shorter time interval between injury and the time of clinical
presentation in the case of extradural haemorrhage, in comparison with a subdural
haemorrhage.
(3) Extradural haemorrhages are the result of acceleration/deceleration of the brain
relative to the dura and skull, which results in rupture of the bridging veins.
(4) Extradural haemorrhages are the most common intracranial haemorrhage in cases of
sudden infant death syndrome (cot death or SIDS).
Question 6
Which one of the following statements regarding firearms is correct?
(1) An entrance wound due to the firing of a rifled firearm perpendicular (90 degrees) to
the body, will result in a central oval defect surrounded by an elliptic abrasion ring.
(2) In the case of a distant entrance wound due to the firing of a revolver, the wound will
consist of a central defect surrounded by an abrasion ring and soot deposit.
(3) In an entrance wound due to a shotgun fired at a distance of 5 metres, the pellets will
spread out over a diameter of 36 cm on the skin surface.
(4) Contact gunshot wounds of the head results in a stellate or star shaped appearance
with inter alia soot discolouration in the wound.
Question 7
Which one of the following statements regarding toxicology/poisoning is INCORRECT?
(1) In cases of cantharidine poisoning it is sometimes possible to identify the coloured
wings of insects in the stomach.
(2) Arsenic poisoning has a very non-specific manner of presentation as it involves
almost all organ systems in the body.
(3) The TD50 value of the dose response curve for a specific drug represents the dose
where 50% of the individuals will suffer from toxic effects due to the drug.
(4) The closer the effective/therapeutic and toxic curves are to one another on the dose
response curve, the more effective and safer a specific drug will be.
(5) Carbon monoxide and alcohol have an aggravating clinical effect on one another.
13
Question 8
Criminal abortion is associated with many complications. Which one of the following is NOT a
complication of criminal abortion?
(1) Hypovolaemic shock due to blood loss resulting from trauma to the genital tract
(2) Toxic effects due to the absorption of fluid or other substances used to induce the
abortion
(3) Air embolism which results when air is absorbed in the maternal vascular bed, from
where it is then carried via the aorta towards the right ventricle
(4) Infections, including sepsis and septic shock
(5) Neurogenic shock due to dilatation of the cervix
Question 9
The lungs in cases of drowning with aspiration of water show a spectrum of possible changes.
Which option regarding the lung finding involved is INCORRECT?
(1) Pulmonary oedema with the production of a thick foamy plume in the airways is
specific to and diagnostic of drowning
(2) Emphysema aquasum or over inflation of the lungs, where deflation of the lungs are
inhibited by the valve like action of the secretions in the airways
(3) So-called dry lung drowning which occurs in 10 to 20% of cases of drowning, where
all the water has been re-absorbed from the lungs
(4) Pulmonary (lung) haemorrhages most probably caused by forceful respiration efforts
Question 10
Which statement regarding thermal wounds (burns) is INCORRECT?
(1) Burns are graded in three or four grades, depending on the depth of involvement of
the skin and underlying tissue.
(2) The boxer stance sometimes seen in charred bodies is no indication of the position in
which the body was at the time of death, or the activity that the deceased was
involved in at the time.
(3) The presence of skull fractures in the charred body is always indicative of a head
injury sustained before death.
(4) Ash and soot, especially in the smaller airways, are indicative that the patient was
alive after the fire started.
(5) Carbon monoxide levels may be of value to determine whether a person was still alive
after the fire started.
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LCR4801/101
6.4.5
Assignment 01 Semester 2
Unique number: 789240
Note that this assignment is compulsory for students registered for this module in the SECOND
semester.
The due date for this assignment is 19 Augustus 2014.
A mother put her seemingly healthy six-months-old baby boy to bed in his cot. The next morning
she finds him dead in his cot. Discuss how this type of death must be managed, the possible
cause of death as well as the theories regarding possible causes or mechanisms of death.
6.4.6 Assignment 02
Semester 2
Unique number: 858492
Note that this assignment is compulsory for students registered for this module in the SECOND
semester.
The due date for this assignment is 09 September 2014.
Question 1
Which of the following is NOT regarded as an UNNATURAL death? Death …
(1) due to tetanus.
(2) due to snake bite.
(3) due to acute alcohol intoxication.
(4) as a result of subarachnoid haemorrhage due to rupture of a berry aneurism.
(5) during an operative procedure.
Question 2
Which one of the following statements regarding hypostasis is correct?
(1) Hypostasis can easily be distinguished from contusions by performing an incision of
the skin, as in contusions blood will still be limited to the blood vessels with no signs
of blood in the surrounding tissue.
(2) After death blood will gravitate to the lower regions of the body, except if external
pressure is applied over that part of the body.
(3) Hypostasis in cases of cyanide poisoning has a typical cherry red appearance.
(4) In deaths due to hanging hypostasis will typically appear over the chest of the body
due to the abnormally strong attempts to inhale during dying.
15
Question 3
The muscles of the body undergo certain changes after death. Which one of the following
statements is INCORRECT?
(1) A very low temperature will initially result in cold stiffening of the body. If the body is
warmed at a later stage, rigor mortis may set in.
(2) Cataleptic stiffening refers to the immediate stiffening of a muscle group or the whole
body, and occurs especially when a person dies during a period of severe emotional
stress, for instance as a result of falling from a cliff.
(3) Rigor mortis appears immediately after death, followed by primary muscle flaccidity,
and ultimately secondary muscle flaccidity when the muscles decompose and liquefy.
(4) The typical boxer stance in a charred body is the result of shortening of the muscles
during charring, with the flexor muscles dominating over the extensor muscle groups.
Question 4
Which one of the following will NOT influence the appearance of a skin wound inflicted to the
body?
(1) The absence or presence of protective clothing
(2) The amount of kinetic energy transferred to the body
(3) The behaviour of the object when it hits the body
(4) The physical size of the individual receiving the blow
(5) The surface area over which the force is applied
Question 5
Which one of the following statements regarding complications of trauma is correct?
(1) Neurogenic shock occurs when the body's neural impulse conduction is inhibited due
to exposure of the body to an electric current.
(2) Cardiogenic shock occurs if an individual is exsanguinated (bled out) after a stab
wound, with insufficient blood left in the circulation for the heart to pump.
(3) Penetration of the carotid artery in the neck by a stab wound will result in air being
sucked into the right ventricle.
(4) The body compensates for shock by redistributing blood from the brain to the skin, to
keep the skin surface warm while the brain is cooled and protected.
(5) The circulation is not able to perfuse the vital organs sufficiently in shock, due to an
imbalance between the circulating blood volume and the volume of the vascular bed.
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LCR4801/101
Question 6
Which one of the following statements regarding head injury is correct?
(1) Subdural haemorrhages are usually the result of rupture of the middle meningeal
artery.
(2) Diffuse axonal injury of the brain usually occurs when the person experiences
decreased oxygen supply to the brain for a long period, for instance anoxia during an
anaesthetic mishap.
(3) A cerebral herniation occurs when a haemorrhage occupies space in one of the
intracranial compartments, thereby causing brain tissue to move from that
compartment to another intracranial compartment.
(4) Cerebral oedema is a post mortem phenomenon and forms part of the hypostatic
changes and swelling of the body after death.
(5) Severe head injuries are always associated with a fracture of the skull, and, therefore,
an X-ray examination is sufficient to exclude existence of severe head injury by
excluding the existence of such fracture.
Question 7
Which one of the following statements regarding deaths due to electricity is correct?
(1) Alternating current is more dangerous than direct current, as it tends more readily to
result in spasm of the muscles, which will increase the time of contact with the
conductor.
(2) High voltage (measured in volt) is more dangerous than low voltage as more energy
is transmitted to the body.
(3) The higher the current (measured in ampere) the less dangerous it will be as it will
throw the body away from the conductor.
(4) Death in cases of electrocution usually results from the heating and degradation of
the blood in the blood vessels which occur when it conducts electricity through the
body.
17
Question 8
The application of pressure to the neck (for instance through throttling) can result in death due
to various causes. Which of the following is NOT a cause of death as a result of the application
of pressure to the neck?
(1) Compression of the trachea, larynx and pharynx with obstruction of air flow
(2) Obstruction of the venous outflow from the brain to the heart
(3) Obstruction of the outflow of air from the lungs resulting in a venous air embolism
(4) Stimulation of the carotid baroreceptors receptors resulting in neurogenic cardiac
arrest
(5) Obstruction of the carotid arteries in the neck
Question 9
Which one of the following statements regarding alcohol intoxication is correct?
(1) The Widmark formula is used to determine the total amount of alcohol ingested over a
period of time;
(2) The Mellanby effect explains why an individual will appear clinically to be more under
the influence of alcohol while the alcohol level is dropping;
(3) The alcohol in a drink with a high alcohol concentration will be more readily absorbed
as alcohol in a drink with a low alcohol concentration;
(4) Alcohol will be eliminated more rapidly from an individual if the concentration of
alcohol in her/his blood is high, in comparison when it is low.
(5) Individuals often act in a jovial manner soon after being under the influence of alcohol
due the depressant effect of alcohol on the frontal lobe.
Question 10
Which one of the following statements regarding sudden infant death syndrome or cot death
(SIDS) in babies is correct?
(1) Cot death usually occurs between the ages of 1 year to 2 years.
(2) The sudden death of a baby is regarded as an unnatural death and can only be
classified as a cot death if all other causes have been excluded.
(3) Cot death is more common in babies lying in their backs, as they can regurgitate and
aspirate milk and food.
(4) One of the common causes of deaths in cot death is fulminant meningitis.
(5) Microscopic examination of the airways in cot death is always normal with no signs of
inflammation.
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LCR4801/101
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OTHER ASSESSMENT METHODS
There are no other assessment methods for this module.
8
EXAMINATION
For general examination guidelines and examination preparation guidelines, see the my Studies
@ Unisa brochure.
8.1
Admission to the examination
For information on admission to the examination, see 6.1.1.
8.2
The division between the semester mark and the examination mark
For information on the semester mark/examination mark ratio, see 6.1.3.
8.3
The examination period
This is a semester module. This means that if registered for the first semester, you will sit the
examination in May/June 2014, and the supplementary examination will be sat in
October/November 2014. If registered for the second semester, you will sit the examination in
October/November 2014, and the supplementary examination will be sat in May/June 2015.
In the course of the semester, the Examination Section will provide you with information
regarding the examination in general, and the examination venues, dates and times.
8.4
The examination paper
At the end of the semester you will sit one two-hour (2-hour) paper for this module. The paper
counts 100 marks. Your examination mark out of 100 will be converted to a mark out of 80. Your
semester mark out of 20 (ie, the marks you obtained for the two assignments converted to a
mark out of 20) will be added to your examination mark out of 80 in order to get your final mark
for this module.
You need to obtain a subminimum of 40% for the examination. This means that you have to
obtain at least 40% in the examination before your semester mark will be taken into
consideration for your final mark. If you obtain less that 40% in the examination, your semester
mark will not be taken into consideration. In such a case, the mark you obtain in the
examination will be your final mark.
8.5
The supplementary/aegrotat examination
Note that should the University allow you to sit a supplementary examination your semester
mark will not count towards your final mark. In other words, your examination mark will then
count 100% of your final mark, and you will have to obtain at least 50% in the supplementary
examination in order to pass this module.
However, the above does not apply to students sitting the aegrotat (sick) examination. In other
words, students who for health reasons are unable to sit the examination and have a medical
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certificate to prove it will be in the same position as students who sat the examination: that is,
their semester mark will make up 20% of their final mark.
8.6
Suggestions on how to approach the examination
It goes without saying that to be successful in any examination one needs to have a sound
knowledge of the subject, which can be attained only by thoroughly studying the study guide
and other prescribed material!
However, from experience we know that students who apparently have a good knowledge of
the subject sometimes fail to obtain a pass mark. Every year we come across scripts suggesting
that students devoted far too much time to the first few questions — for which they earned good
marks — but were unable to answer the whole paper because time caught up with them.
It is a good idea to first carefully read through the paper and to specifically note the maximum
number of marks allocated to each question, and then to decide on the maximum amount of
time that should be devoted to each question.
Make sure that you stick to the essential points at issue. From experience we know that
students sometimes add information that is not really relevant to a particular question, in the
hope that in so doing they will somehow earn marks. It does not work that way! Our questions
are very specific and no marks can be earned by "throwing in" additional material that is not
required.
We always try to ensure that examination papers are not too long. If you have a very good
grasp of the subject and in the examination find yourself running out of time, do not hesitate to
use abbreviations and even a "telegram" style of writing. But, at the risk of repeating ourselves,
we wish to emphasise that you should plan your time properly when sitting an examination.
If required to define certain concepts or state certain principles or criteria, you should be brief
and to the point. No detailed discussions or comments are necessary, unless they are
specifically asked for.
Please use short paragraphs when answering the questions, because we find it difficult to read
through pages and pages of solid text. Also remember to start a new paragraph for every new
point or aspect you introduce. Some of you number specific points and paragraphs, and that is
very helpful — and so are subheadings, if underlined. Similarly, the names of authors of books
or articles should be underlined.
Use a pen that will produce a bold and legible script. Sometimes the script produced by a worn
and nearly depleted ballpoint pen is barely legible.
We always try to set a paper that will test your knowledge in a fair and proper manner, and to
maintain sound standards.
8.7
Tutorial letter with information on the examination
To help you in your preparation for the examination, you will receive a tutorial letter that will
explain the format of the examination paper.
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LCR4801/101
9
CONCLUSION
We hope that you will enjoy studying this interesting subject and wish you success in
your studies and the forthcoming examination.
PROF IAJ LOFTUS (lecturer)
ADV LC COETZEE (course coordinator)
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