MEDICAL LEGAL ASPECTS OF INVESTIGATION

MEDICAL LEGAL ASPECTS OF INVESTIGATIONIdentity persons conception & expression of their individuality or group affiliations national or cultural identity.

National identity persons identity & sense of belonging to ones state or one nation, a feeling ones share with a group of people regardless of ones citizenship status.Cultural identity - identity of a group or culture or of an individual as influenced by ones belonging to a group or culture.Sexual related crimes issues including pedophilia, child pornongraphy, rape, sexual assault, date rape, incest & stalkingChild pronography pornography depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child.Pornography explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purpose of sexual gratification.

May use a variety of media like writings, magazines, photos, drawing, cartoons, paintings, animation, sound recording, film showing, video & video games.2. Rape - crime of forcing another to submit to sex acts especially sexual intercourse. - sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse initiated by one or more persons without that persons consent. - can be carried by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent: unconscious , incapacitated

MEDICO- LEGAL ASPECTS OF DEATHDEATH as the absence of life in a living being.

Importance of death determination:Personality of a person is extinguished by deathCriminal liabilty is extinguished by deathProperty of a person is transmitted to heirs or nearest kinBasis of immediate removal of organs for transplant3.. Property of a person is transmitted to nearest heirs or nearest of kinBasis of immediate removal of organs for transplantationCivil case for claim is dismissedKinds of Death:Somatic or clinical death complete continous cessation of respiration, circulation and almost all brain functions of an organismImmediate sings of death: sudden cessation of upward & downward movements of the chest & the process of respirationSOMATIC DEATH

SOMATIC DEATH

2. Sudden appearance of pale color of the face & lips 3. The heart and pulse rate stops4. Jaw drops down and flaccidity of the muscles occurs5. Pupils dilates and loss of corneal & light reflexes CLINICAL TYPES OF DEATHSociological death the withdrawal & separation from the patient by others producing a sense of isolation & abandonment-may last for 5 years if abandoned by family, unvisited & left alone to die2. Psychic death the patient regresses, gives up or surrenders accepting death prematurely & refuses to continue living3. Biologic death characterized by the absence of cognitive function or awareness although artificial support system may maintain organs functioning.4. Physiologic death all vital organs cease to function

B. Molecular or Cellular death cessation of life of the individual cells in the body which occurs one at a time after a somatic death. Nerve & brain cells die first earlier about 5 minutes while muscles cells live longer until the onset of rigor mortis which is about 2-6 hours3c. Apparent death or state of suspended animation state of temporary cessation of vital activities of the body. Not actually death because the person is still alive altho it seems that there are no signs of life. - can be seen in uremia, drowning, electrocution sometimes in infants SIGNS OF DEATHANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWIGN QUESTIONS MUST BE OBTAINED IN ANY CASE FOR SUBJECT OF INVESTIGAITON:Is the body dead?How long has the body been deadWhat is the cause of death?External Signs of DeathThe most useful signs of death those which can be detected by the external examination of the body.Loss of power to move & insensibility of the body determined by visual inspectionStoppage of respiration person can hold his breath not loner than 31/2 min. A. upward & downward movements of the chest & abdomen must be observed no movement upon deathB. Palpation of the respiratory movement C. Examination with the use of stethoscope flow of air can be heard if there is respirationD. Mirror test dimming of the mirror due to condensation if respiration is presentE. Placing of a feather of cotton fiber in the nostrils & mouth if there is movement then respiration is presentF. Place a glass of water at the chest region region- if there is movement of water, then respiration on is present.G. Winslow test there is stoppage of respiration if there is no movement of the reflected image on the water on the chest of a person lying on his back3. Stoppage of heart action & circulation- if there is no heart action for a period of 5-10 min, death is considered, cannot be revived by cardiac massage & other resuscitative measures for a period of 5 min. decapitation & hanging the heart beat persists for 15 min-1 hourDecapitation separation of the head from the body-Beheading act of intentional decapitationMethods of detecting stoppage of the heart action & circulationHeart Action Palpation of the heartAuscultation with the aid of stethoscopeFluoroscopic examinationFluoroscopy examination- type of x-ray exam that visualizes all the organs & tissues in the bodyFluoroscopy Examination

Fluoroscopy examination

B. Examination of the Peripheral CirculationPeripheral circulation - transport of the oxygenated blood & nutrients through the arteries to the capillaries where it nourishes the tissues. 1. Magnum test ligature is tied around the finger, blood zone at the site of the application2. Palpation of the radial pulse, carotid pulse & the femoral pulse

RADIAL PULSE

Radial Pulse

Carotid Pulse

Carotid pulse

Femoral pulse

Femoral pulse

Femoral pulse

CAUSES OF DEATHCLASSIFICATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF DEATHNatural death occurs due to a disease or ailment in the body . - disease may occur spontaneously or it might have been a consequence of the physical injury inflicted prior to its development.B. Violent death due to injuries by some forms of outside force wherein the physical injuries inflicted is the proximate cause of death.

CLASSIFICATION OF PHYSICAL INJURIES:Physical injury use of physical forceThermal injuru