‫‪FORENSIC MEDICINE :‬‬
‫?? ‪How do we translate‬‬
‫•‬
‫‪• Legal medicine,,,,, forensics‬‬
‫الطب القانوني ‪ ،‬الطب الجنائي ‪ ،‬الطب القضائي ‪ ،‬الطب الشرعي ‪ ،‬علم التشريح المرضي ‪ ،‬علم الوفيات ‪ ،‬علم •‬
‫‪،،،،،،،‬‬
‫‪• Autopsy , PME‬‬
OUR SCOPE
•
•
•
•
•
PME TO DETERMINE COD
LEGAL SYSTEM
DISEASE & INJURY
IDENTIFECATION.
WOUNDS
KEY WORDS:
(SUGGESTIONS TO BE USED IN SEARCHES):
Forensic, forensics, forensic pathology, forensic medicine, forensic odontology, forensic
dentistry, forensic anthropology, forensic psychiatry, forensic psychology, Forensic
archaeology, Forensic entomology, Forensic botany, Forensic criminalistics, Ballistics,
Ballistic fingerprinting, Body identification, DNA profiling, Fingerprint analysis, Forensic
accounting, Forensic arts, Forensic footwear evidence, Forensic toxicology, Questioned
document examination, Vein matching, Digital forensics, telemedicine, telepathology,
forensic informatics, Computer forensics, Database forensics, Mobile device forensics,
Network forensics, death, cause of death, sudden death, unexpected death, manner ,
manner of death, homicide, suicide, accident, accidental death, fatal, fatality, mortal,
mortality, identification, identifying, sports medicine (and injuries, trauma, death, fatal,
fatalities, mortality), Fire investigation, fire, accelerants, Forensic engineering, Forensic
linguistics, Forensic materials engineering, Forensic polymer engineering, Vehicular
accident reconstruction, Crime scene, CSI effect, Perry Mason syndrome, Pollen
calendar, Skid mark, Trace evidence, DNA in forensic entomology, etc.
THE WEB SITES
The web sites: (suggestions to be used in searches):
1. http://www.medscape.com
2. http://scholar.google.com/
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
4. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
5. ,,,,,,,,,,,
6. ,,,,,,
7. ,,,
8. ,
SUGGESTIONS FOR TITLES:
History, religion and culture of forensics and PME:
•
•
•
•
•
In Islam
In other Religions/Cultures
In the Holy Quran, Hadeeth
History
Previous scientists (e.g. Ibn Al-Nafis)
WHO REQUESTS AN AUTOPSY? ((PERMISSION))
In some cases, the law may mandate that an autopsy be performed ( Forensic
Autopsy ).
In all other cases, permission is required, cannot be performed without consent.
It can be requested either by the patient’s physician ( medical autopsy ) or by the
family ( private autopsy ).
- When giving consent, the family may make any restrictions, limitations, or special
requests
TYPE OF AUTOPSIES
 Medical
 Forensic
 Private
WHAT IS AN AUTOPSY ?
•
Postmortem examination of the organs and tissues of a body to determine cause
of death or pathological conditions.
•
an external and internal examination of the body after death using surgical
techniques.
•
performed by a forensic pathologist.
•
Takes { 2 – 4 } hours to perform.
WHAT IS AN AUTOPSY ?
May be
 Invasive.
 mini-invasive.
 non-invasive procedures.
May be
 Comprehensive
 limited to a particular organ system.
Small samples of each organ are taken:
 for microscopic examination , (malignancy or infection……..
 for studying genes.
 for checking for drugs, chemicals, or toxic substances.
The performance of an autopsy should not delay a funeral or affect viewing of the
body.
SUGGESTIONS FOR TITLES:
•
Postmortem examination (PME) and autopsy:






Autopsy ethics:
Autopsy procedure:
Limited:
Minimally invasive:
Virtopsy:
Techniques:
SUGGESTIONS FOR TITLES:
Sub-specialised PME:
•





Molecular autopsy:
Perinatal:
Natural deaths:
Research:
Negative autopsy:
TITLES:
Forensic topics in KSA:
Drowning , carbon monoxide , death of females of child bearing age ~14-44 years
of age, "accidental" fire arm injury, residential injuries, occupational injury,
ASCAD, DM, congenital disease, drug abuse, psychiatry, prisons, orphanages,
death of Saudis abroad, asthma/allergies, biochemical industry, farming,
unclaimed bodies, improper death certification.
FORENSIC AS RELATED TO OTHER HEALTH
SPECIALTIES AND MINISTRY OF HEALTH:
•
Paramedics: PME as a quality assurance, Documentation of evidence of
resuscitation
•
ER: Death certification, PME as a quality assurance, Documentation of evidence
of resuscitation
•
Plastic surgery: Burns, wounds, documentation of injuries, identification.
•
Ortho: Documentation of injuries, identification, causes of death; PE, fat
embolism.
•
Ob/Gyn: Sexual offences, abortion, abuse, recurrent fetal loss, perinatal PME
•
Using Colposcopy in the Rape Exam: Health Care, Forensic, and Criminal Justice
Issues
•
ICU: Death certification, PME as a quality assurance, Documentation of evidence
of resuscitation
FORENSIC AS RELATED TO OTHER HEALTH
SPECIALTIES AND MINISTRY OF HEALTH:
•
CCU: Death certification, PME as a quality assurance, Documentation of
evidence of resuscitation
•
Anesthesia: Death certification, PME as a quality assurance, Documentation of
evidence of resuscitation
•
Cardiology: Death certification, PME as a quality assurance, Documentation of
evidence of resuscitation
•
Cardiac surgery: Death certification, PME as a quality assurance, Documentation
of evidence of resuscitation
•
Neurosurgery: Death certification, Documentation of injuries, PME as a quality
assurance, Documentation of evidence of resuscitation
•
Neurology: Degenerative diseases, infectious disease.
FORENSIC AS RELATED TO OTHER HEALTH
SPECIALTIES AND MINISTRY OF HEALTH:
•
Pediatric: Abuse, neglect, Shaken baby syn., SIDS, PME and congenital disease
diagnosis, inherited disease.
•
Cranial Computed Tomographic Findings in a Large Group of Children With
Drowning: Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Forensic Implications.
•
Geriatric.
•
Degenerative disease, Abuse, Neglect.
•
Forensic Biomarkers of Elder Abuse: What Clinicians Need to Know.
•
Psychiatry: Drug abuse, psychiatric disease psychosis in forensics, excited
delirium. Caring for Convicts.
FORENSIC AS RELATED TO OTHER HEALTH
SPECIALTIES AND MINISTRY OF HEALTH:
• infectious disease: Public health, PME, H1N1, SARS, caring for convicts.
• Ophthalmology: Retinal examination, Shaken baby syn.
• Vascular surgery: PME in Aneurysm, Dissection, Aortic Dissection and
Marfan's Fatal Invasive Cervical Cancer Secondary to Untreated Cervical
Dysplasia.
• Oncology: death, mortality, effects of treatment, cervical cancer fatality.
• Medical staff of a hospital, Hospital Administrator and governmental agencies
monitoring health care:
• Provides a quality control mechanism, a final yardstick by which the care of a
patient can be measured
FORENSIC AS RELATED TO OTHER HEALTH
SPECIALTIES AND MINISTRY OF HEALTH:
Researcher:
A source of new ideas as to cause of disease
May also provide an evaluation of new procedures and new therapeutic agents, and
an explanation of adverse reactions, with the hope that they can be prevented in
the future
FORENSICS RELATED TO OTHER MINISTRIES
•
Military.
•
MOI:
•
Police:
•
Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vices.
•
Fire department:
•
Border and Customs:
•
Correctional institutions:
FORENSICS RELATED TO OTHER MINISTRIES
•
Evaluation of new weaponry; TASER, biological, etc.
•
Evaluation of safety measures (for officers and transportation).
•
Evaluation of security measures.
•
Identification of previously known and unknown individuals.
•
Excited delirium.
•
Deaths of officers, prisoners, orphans.
OTHER TOPICS:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mass disaster
Medical errors
Quality assurance
CSI effect/syndrome
Education
Research
OTHER TOPICS:
•
Sports, head injuries, cardiac disease, tests, cause of death.
•
Terrorism.
•
Occupational health.
•
Industry.
•
Transportation, car, plane, aquatic
•
Forensic awareness program: KG, elementary, junior high, high school, College
University, health colleges, police, military, fire department.....
OTHER TOPICS:
•
Epidemiology: qualitative, quantitative studies
•
Testing: military, drugs, treatments
•
Safety: cars, planes, trains, high rise apartments/buildings, schools, hospitals,
psychiatric intitutes
•
Genetic disease, heart disease, infectious disease
•
Drug trafficking, human trafficking, other.
WHY PERFORM AN AUTOPSY?
Although the primary reason to perform an autopsy is to determine cause of
death, there are other benefits to individual, families, the practice of
medicine, and the community at large.
to answer any questions the law, the family or physician may have about the illness,
cause of death, and/or any co-existing conditions.
The autopsy is important to providing an understanding of the quality of patient care.
FORENSIC BENEFITS
 In addition, there are forensic benefits of
investigation of homicide, suspected homicide,
other unexplained or suspicious deaths, and
deaths apparently due to accident or injury.
MANNER OF DEATH
•
Homicide.
•
Accidental.
•
Natural.
•
Suicide
•
Undetermined.
•
Unclassified.
HOW FAMILIES BENEFIT FROM THE AUTOPSY
Discovering inherited or familial diseases
 may help families through early diagnosis and treatment & family planning
Discovering an infectious disease
 may lead to early diagnosis and treatment & to help other family members and close
contacts ( TB ).
Uncovering evidence of a work-related disease
 might lead to compensation for the family.
Providing crucial information for the settling of insurance claims or death benefits
 may result in benefits for the family
Confirming a specific cause of death
 may simply ease the stress of the unknown.
Finding that diagnosis and treatment was appropriate
 may be comforting to the family.
Knowledge that information gained by the autopsy
 may help someone else to live longer may ease the profound sense of loss experienced by
families.
understand what has happened to their loved one is by performing an autopsy
HOW COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM AUTOPSIES
•
Increasing knowledge about causes and course of an illness and effects of
different types of treatment.
•
Explaining the causes of injuries and accidents involving automobiles, falls,
or other situations.
•
Providing information about preventable causes of disease and accident and
other public health hazards
•
Helping to establish the cause and manner of death, which at times may be
required by law.
•
The autopsy is important to providing an understanding of the quality of
patient care
•
to monitor health system.
•
Medical education, training and research leading to improved health care
ARE THERE RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS?
YES VS NO
THE FINAL REPORT:
It takes several weeks.
a permanent part of the patient’s medical record.
The findings may be discussed with the family physician or with the pathologist.
Theeb Alkahtani
dr_theeb@hotmail.com
Text: 966557228228
966500520242