Journal of forensic and legal medicine
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The leading risk factor of morbidity and mortality in Victorian women aged between 15 and 45 years is intimate partner violence (IPV) (approximately 8 times than that of smoking). Paramedics are frequently the first point of contact for victims of IPV. Due to this unique viewpoint, paramedics have the advantage of potentially identifying and reporting IPV, which can then result in early intervention. This article will summarise the literature regarding pre-hospital provider knowledge of IPV.
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Accidental death from postural or positional asphyxia takes place when the abnormal position of the victim's body compromises the process of respiration. Diagnosis is largely made by circumstantial evidence supported by absence of any other significant pathology or trauma explaining death. This case report is about a 50-year-old male who had been drinking the previous night and was found dead in the morning inside a tire repair shop. ⋯ Abrasions on shoulders, lateral aspects of arms and posterior aspects of lower legs indicated friction with internal rims of tires while slipping down. There were no other injuries or pathology to account for his death. Death was determined to be due to accidental postural asphyxia secondary to intoxication by alcohol.
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Forensic pathologists can help in the investigation of sudden unexpected deaths in co-operation with the officials responsible for the maintenance of law and order to administer justice. Sudden unexpected deaths form the subject of medicolegal investigation if they occur in apparently healthy individuals, wherein an autopsy would shed light regarding the cause of death. A 4 year retrospective review of autopsy files at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, South India was undertaken for cases of sudden unexpected deaths due to acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis occurring between May 2004 and April 2008. A total of seven cases of acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis diagnosed at autopsy as the cause of sudden unexpected death during the study period are discussed herein.
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A five-year retrospective study of homicides was carried out to determine the profile of victims and the pattern of injuries sustained between 2001 and 2005 at Government District Wenlock Hospital, Mangalore, South India. Of the 89 victims of homicide, 71 were males and 18 were females. On an average, about 17 cases of fatal assault cases were autopsied each year. ⋯ The incidence of homicidal burns was low (n = 2, 2.2%). In 61.8% of the cases, death was immediate. In 52.8% of the cases the assailant(s) had a pre-planned motive for killing.
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The overall aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the quality of current practical training in London with a view to improving future training as part of faculty development. New trainees in clinical forensic medicine (CFM), Assistant Forensic Medical Examiners (AFMEs), were interviewed to gather their views of their recent training experience and to attempt to identify problems with implementing the training as it stands. ⋯ Each trainee should have a named clinical and educational supervisor during the training period. Furthermore it should be mandatory for educational supervisors to undergo training and review of performance.