NCJ Number
44531
Date Published
1976
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PATHOLOGIST IN EXAMINATION OF VICTIMS OF AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS ARE OUTLINED.
Abstract
THE PATHOLOGIST'S FIRST OBJECTIVE IS THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE VICTIM. THIS CAN BE DIFFICULT IF THERE HAS BEEN A FIRE OR EXPLOSION, AND HE MAY NEED A FOLLOWUP BY AN ANTHOPOLOGIST OR ODONTOLOGIST. DOCUMENTATION OF THE INJURIES IS DONE WITH A DESCRIPTION AND PHOTOGRAPHS. THE PATHOLOGIST SHOULD TRY TO IDENTIFY PATTERNS OF INJURIES WHICH COMMONLY OCCUR IN PARTICULAR TYPES OF ACCIDENTS, SO THAT HE CAN ANTICIPATE THE INJURIES HE MAY FIND. AN EVALUATION OF THE CAUSE OF DEATH IS IMPORTANT FOR FILING CRIMINAL CHARGES IN A CASE AND FOR DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. IT COULD HAVE BEEN STAGED TO COVER UP A MURDER; THE DRIVER COULD HAVE BEEN SHOT, STUNG BY A BEE, OR CHOKING AND LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE ROLE OF NATURAL DISEASE MUST BE CONSIDERED, AS THE DRIVER MAY HAVE HAD HEART DISEASE, A STROKE, OR AN EPILEPTIC SEIZURE. OTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTORS SUCH AS ALCOHOL OR CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE BLOOD, POOR ROAD CONDITIONS, OR FLICKER VERTIGO FROM DRIVING INTO THE SUN MUST ALSO BE ASSESSED. DELAYED DEATHS RESULTING FROM HEAD INJURIES OR A BUILDUP OF BLOOD MUST BE EXAMINED. THE PATHOLOGIST SHOULD ALSO EVALUATE THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE, THE TRANSPORTATION OF VICTIMS, AND THE INITIAL TREATMENT THEY RECEIVED. THE AUTHOR EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR THE INVESTIGATOR TO BE SUSPICIOUS AND NOT TO AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME THAT A CRASH WAS AN ACCIDENT. (VDA)