REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AS TO THE PRESENT POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS IN ESTIMATING THE TIME OF DEATH

• NCJ Number: 37655
• Journal: Medicine, Science and the Law Volume: 16 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1976) Pages: 269-276
• Author(s): V D OEVER
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: John Wright and Sons, Ltd
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

THE AUTHOR TRIES TO FIND OUT WHY THE MOST RELIABLE PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL METHODS OF ESTIMATING THE POST-MORTEM INTERVAL ARE NEITHER POPULAR NOR PRACTICAL IN ROUTINE FORENSIC MEDICINE CASES.

Abstract

THESE METHODS ARE REVIEWED. RECOGNIZING THAT THE EXACT MOMENT OF DEATH IN MEDICOLEGAL CASES IS NOT POSSIBLE SINCE POSTMORTEM CHANGES OF THE HUMAN BODY ARE VARIABLE AND OFTEN MISJUDGED. THE AUTHOR ADVOCATES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION BE CARRIED OUT TO FIND A SUITABLE COMBINATION OF SOME PHYSICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL TESTS COMPLEMENTARY TO THE DATA PRODUCED BY EACH METHOD TO PREVENT THE RATHER LARGE ERROR RANGE OF EACH TEST.