2nd Edition

Handbook of Forensic Pathology

    326 Pages 21 Color & 47 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    326 Pages
    by CRC Press

    Handbook of Forensic Pathology, Second Edition is an up-to-date, concise manual illustrating all core aspects of modern forensic pathology. This edition retains the outline format of the original, which allows for quick access and rapid assimilation. Written in no-nonsense, easily understandable language, this precise and thorough yet compact resource contains extensively detailed entries from two of the nation’s foremost authorities on gunshot wounds and forensic pathology. With numerous instructional charts and diagrams and color photographs, it organizes a wealth of instructional and immediately applicable information.

    Features of the second edition include a chapter on nursing home death, added information on gunshot residue, and research on tasers, pepper spray, and excited delirium syndrome. Introducing medicolegal casework and documentation, this book explains protocols for the collection and recovery of evidence and DNA analysis and lists factors used to determine time of death and identity of the deceased. It identifies the natural causes of death in children and adults before devoting the remaining chapters to the myriad of non-natural causes including homicide, suicide, accidental, and undetermined.

    With meticulous detail and instant access to extensive information, this handbook is an indispensable tool for forensic pathologists, law enforcement, and legal personnel, as well as pathologists in training.

    Introduction to Medicolegal Casework
    Five Categories of Medicolegal Cases
    Cause, Mechanism, and Manner of Death
    The forensic autopsy versus an external examination
    Three steps of medicolegal death investigation
    Handling of bodies at the scene
    Handling of bodies from a hospital
    Handling of bodies at the morgue
    Identification of bodies

    The Autopsy Report
    Heading of report
    External Examination
    Evidence of Injury
    Internal Examination
    Microscopic Examination
    Toxicology
    Findings
    Opinion

    Physical Evidence
    Types of physical evidence
    Preservation of physical evidence on the body
    Recovery of physical evidence
    Procedures for collection of biological evidence
    Procedures for collection of nonbiological physical evidence
    DNA analysis

    Time of Death- Decomposition
    Factors used in estimating time of death
    Decomposition

    Identification of Remains
    Intact, nondecomposed human remains
    Decomposed or charred, nonskeletonized human remains
    Skeletonized human remains

    Natural Disease
    Causes of Sudden Natural Death in Adults
    Cardiovascular disease
    Central nervous system disorders
    Respiratory system disorders
    Gastrointestinal tract disorders
    Hepatic disorders
    Adrenal disorders
    Splenic disorders
    Miscellaneous causes of sudden death in adults

    Causes of Sudden Natural Death in Infants and Young Children
    Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
    Other disorders associated with sudden death in infants and children

    Blunt Force Injury
    Definition
    Abrasions
    Contusions
    Lacerations
    Combination injuries
    Blunt force injury to the chest (thorax)
    Blunt force injury to the abdomen
    Blunt force injury to the genitalia (internal and external)
    Skeletal fractures due to blunt force trauma
    Extremity injuries due to blunt force trauma
    Head injuries caused by blunt force trauma
    Neck injuries caused by blunt force trauma

    Wounds Produced by Pointed, Sharp-Edged, and Chopping Implements
    Stab wounds
    Incised wounds
    Chop wounds

    Gunshot Wounds
    Types of small arms
    Firearms
    Caliber
    Ammunition
    Ballistic comparison of bullets
    Theory of wounding
    Gunshot wounds
    Centerfire Rifle Wounds
    Microscopic examination of gunshot wounds
    The effects of intermediary targets
    Ricochet bullets
    Shotguns
    Wounds of bone
    Caliber determination by size of entrance wounds
    Perforation of skin and bone
    Gunshot residue
    Miscellaneous
    Suicide
    General firearm terminology

    Asphyxia
    Suffocation
    Strangulation
    Chemical asphyxiants
    Neck holds

    Deaths During Arrest and in Police Custody: Excited Delirium Syndrome
    Deaths occurring during arrest - the Excited Delirium Syndrome (EDS)
    Mechanisms of death in EDS
    Hogtying - Positional/restraint asphyxia
    Choke hold-related deaths
    Tasers
    Oleoresin capsicum (pepper spray)
    Deaths occurring in jails

    Murder of Infants and Children
    Statistics
    Neo-naticide
    Deaths in the first 2 years of life
    Battered child syndrome
    Impulse homicides
    Gentle homicide
    Shaken baby syndrome

    Sexually Related Homicides
    Rape homicides
    Homosexually related homicides
    Evidence of chronic anal intercourse

    Fire and Thermal Injuries
    Classification of burns according to depth of injury
    Burn severity factors
    Documentation of extent and pattern of burn
    Burn survivability
    Clothing and burns
    Six categories of burns
    Death due to burn injury (immediate or delayed)
    Charred bodies
    Classification of fire deaths
    Antemortem versus postmortem burns

    Transportation Deaths
    Motor vehicle deaths
    Pedestrian deaths
    Motorcycle deaths
    Bicycle (pedal-cycle) injuries
    Aviation-related injuries and death

    Environmental Deaths
    Drowning
    Hyperthermia
    Hypothermia
    Lightning

    Electrocution
    Ohm's law
    Factors determining severity of electrical injury
    Low-voltage versus high-voltage deaths
    Resistance and current flow
    Current flow through body
    Electrocution and loss of consciousness
    Electrical burns of the skin
    Suicidal electrocution
    Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs)
    Investigation of suspected electrocutions
    Third rail electrocutions
    Electrical shock and pregnancy
    Stun guns
    Judicial electrocutions

    Deaths in Nursing Homes
    Deaths in nursing homes
    Signs of neglect
    Deaths due to hospital bed side rails
    Deaths due to medical restraints

    Deaths due to Starvation
    Malnutrition, starvation deaths in general
    Nutrition and body weight
    Physical manifestations of starvation
    Dehydration deaths

    Deaths in Association with Pregnancy
    Deaths secondary to complications of pregnancy
    Abortion-related deaths

    Intraoperative Deaths
    Deaths due to underlying disease
    Disruption of a vital organ during a procedure
    Air embolism occurring during surgery
    Anesthetic-related deaths
    Cause of death cannot be ascertained

    Forensic Toxicology
    Forensic toxicology
    Tissues to be collected
    Collection of materials
    Routine testing
    Drug screens in medical examiners' offices
    Thin-layer chromatography
    Immunoassay methods of analysis
    Gas chromatography (GC)
    High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)
    Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
    Confirmatory testing
    Poisons
    Drugs of abuse
    Medications commonly associated with overdose
    Ethanol
    Methyl alcohol and isopropanol
    Phencyclidine (PCP)
    Drug and chemical blood concentrations

    Index

    Biography

    Vincent J.M. DiMaio M.D., Suzanna E. Dana M.D.