NCJ Number
209086
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 50 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2005 Pages: 263-268
Date Published
March 2005
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This research examined the validity of using posterior-anterior radiographs of the hand to make positive identifications of unknown human remains, using "Daubert's" guidelines for scientific validity.
Abstract
The Daubert test of scientific evidence relies on a preliminary ruling by the judge on whether the scientific theory or technique is scientifically valid based on testing, rates of error, peer review through publication, and "widespread acceptance." The validation study reported in this article required 12 examiners from the forensic science community to work independently in an attempt to match 10 simulated postmortem radiographs of skeletonized hands to 40 simulated antemortem radiographs of fleshed cadaver hands. The postmortem sample was obtained by removing 10 of the left hands, proximal to the wrist joint, from 10 of the 40 cadavers. These hands were then processed at the Michigan State University Forensic Anthropology Lab into bony specimens by removing all the soft tissue. Care was taken to have the bones in an orientation that was similar to the antemortem radiograph. The overall accuracy of the 12 examiners was 95 percent; however, the 6 Ph.D. forensic anthropologists and 4 forensic anthropology graduate students who were experienced with radiological identification had an accuracy of 100 percent. Thus, this method apparently satisfies the requirements of the Daubert guidelines of scientific validity by establishing a standard methodology for hand radiograph analysis, testing the technique, and noting rates of error. 3 tables, 2 figures, and 38 references