NCJ Number
214162
Date Published
2006
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This chapter suggests how to organize and compose a medicolegal autopsy report.
Abstract
Although the basic medicolegal autopsy report follows an established format, there are differences, depending on the type of case. This chapter provides directions for deciding which autopsy findings should be mentioned because of their presence in the decedent's body and which findings are significant due to the absence of some conditions or substance in the body. The autopsy report should feature the examiner's opinion as to the cause, manner, and mechanism of death. The components of an autopsy necessary to provide a comprehensive and thorough report are described. They include a preliminary investigation that consists of obtaining as much information as possible on the circumstances of the death and the medical background of the deceased. The external examination of a body (the body's surface), including the clothing, is probably the most important element of a medicolegal postmortem examination. The manner and mechanism of the death are often determined in this phase of the examination. The author suggests what can be found in the external examination, such as the presence of rigor and livor mortis, postmortem decomposition, various types of injuries, and patterns of injury on the skin. Findings from the external examination should be descriptive. A description of the internal examination focuses on its objectives under various circumstances and the kinds of findings that should be presented in the autopsy report based on the internal examination. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the nature of medicolegal opinion regarding the cause and manner of death. It should be based not only on the results of the postmortem examination and laboratory analyses, but also on all pertinent information collected on the case. 8 photographic exhibits