NCJ Number
146647
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1994) Pages: 94-99
Date Published
1994
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Firearm-related injuries represent a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, and trauma care centers and trauma specialists may be asked to address forensic questions regarding gunshot wounds in the course of providing emergency care.
Abstract
To determine how accurately trauma specialists could differentiate entrance and exit wounds in fatal perforating (exiting) gunshot wounds and determine the number of penetrating or perforating projectiles in fatal multiple gunshot wounds, 271 fatal gunshot wound deaths were reviewed. Fatal penetrating (nonexiting) single gunshot wounds and fatalities not evaluated by trauma specialists were excluded from the analysis. Postmortem findings were compared with medical records of individuals seen in the emergency department of and/or admitted to North Carolina Baptist Hospital. Of 46 cases involving fatal multiple or exiting gunshot wounds, 24 (52.2 percent) were misinterpreted by trauma specialists. Errors included inaccurate determination of the total number of multiple penetrating and/or perforating gunshot wounds and erroneous identification of entrance and exit wounds. Of the exiting, single gunshot wounds, 37 percent were misclassified, while 73.6 percent of multiple gunshot wounds were interpreted incorrectly. Study findings emphasize the need for trauma specialists to recognize the potential for misinterpretation when multiple and exiting gunshot wounds are encountered and to be aware of medicolegal implications. 19 references and 6 tables