Journal of forensic and legal medicine
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In recent years, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been discussed as a cause of petechial hemorrhage in eyelids and conjunctivae, which could be of substantial significance to forensic expertises in cases of suspected strangulation. In the reported series or case observations, the combination of CPR and petechiae seemed to be sufficient to explain such a causal connection. Nearly all presented cases were victims for which the mechanisms resulting in death were themselves well-known causes explaining the development of such petechiae; and said mechanisms can frequently be observed in victims that did not receive CPR. ⋯ The only case with petechiae observed neither immediately prior to nor after unsuccessful resuscitation, but during a follow-up examination one day later, needs to be discussed. It is not interpreted as reliable evidence for the causality of CPR though. Our interpretation of reports in literature as well as our experiences confirm the absence of actual proof of petechiae being generated by CPR and in the presence of generally significant doubts of this relation.
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This study provides a retrospective review from the forensic files of the University Centre of Legal Medicine in Western Switzerland in Geneva, from January 1956 to December 2005. The studied homicide-suicide cases cover a period of half a century (50 years). As a rule, all police-ordered forensic examinations of violent death cases in the Canton of Geneva are conducted by the University Centre of Legal Medicine. ⋯ Shooting was the most common means to kill, followed by stabbing. The majority of the victims and perpetrators were Swiss nationals. This retrospective study shows that in the last 50 years, homicide-suicide cases in the Canton of Geneva have been a rare and an episodic phenomena with a very variable frequency from 1 year to another.
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Deaths have occurred after law-enforcement incidents involving applications of electronic control devices (ECDs) (including TASER devices). An "excited delirium" syndrome (reported in the literature prior to the development of ECDs currently in use), however, includes several factors that may be related to such deaths in custody. In this review, potential detrimental effects of ECDs are compared with possible changes due to excited delirium. ⋯ ECD use is unlikely to be a common cause of ventricular fibrillation, but other events that are generally associated with excited delirium (e.g., drug use) may be related to subsequent ventricular fibrillation or asystole. Metabolic or respiratory acidosis may only be serious consequences of long-duration or repeated ECD applications. On the basis of current available information, factors other than ECDs themselves may be more important when death occurs after the use of ECDs.
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Until recent years the Republic of Ireland had one of the most restrictive regimes on firearms access with the Irish police (An Garda Siochana) consistently refusing to grant certificates for a wide range of guns including handguns, high calibre rifles and shotguns capable of holding more than three cartridges. In 2004 the High Court ruled that this policy was without legislative backing and since then the police began to issue certificates for firearms where the applicant is not disentitled under law from possessing a gun. ⋯ Consideration is given to experiences in other jurisdictions and international research on firearm suicide prevention. Finally some recommendations for changes in legislation, policy and protocol in the Irish context are presented.
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In this retrospective autopsy study fire-related deaths whose autopsies were carried out in the Council of Forensic Medicine in Istanbul, Turkey were analyzed in order to evaluate the relationship between the mode of the death and the laboratory and autopsy findings. There were 320 fire-related fatalities constituting the 2.07% of all autopsy cases of that period. Of the 320 cases 228 (71.3%) were males and 91 (28.4%) were females, average age in age-determined group was 36.6 (SD: 21.98) ranging from 8 months to 98 years. ⋯ Accidents constituted the majority of the cases in our autopsy population with a frequency of 51.9%. The relationship between the presence of soot in trachea or esophagus and the mode of death and that of CO-Hb and the mode of death was statistically significant. The internal findings and laboratory data of the study population were discussed particularly on the basis of the decision of vitality in burned cases.