Journal of clinical forensic medicine
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J Clin Forensic Med · Aug 2006
Victims of sexual offences: medicolegal examinations in emergency settings.
The aim of the study was to present some data concerning the examinations of victims of sexual offences in emergency settings conducted by medicolegal examiners of the Lisbon Department of the National Institute of Legal Medicine (NILM) over a two-year period (2002-2003). The study was based on 352 alleged victims of sexual offences referred by investigating police authorities and physicians working at hospital emergency rooms. Examination records were reviewed and data collected according to the extended medicolegal protocol adopted by NILM, which includes sociodemographic variables, and medical and laboratory findings. ⋯ Traumatic lesions on the whole body were found in only 28% of the cases, while findings on the genitalia and/or the anus were present in 31%. Medical and laboratory findings were in accordance with some sort of sexual offence in 34% of the cases. Our findings show the great heterogeneity of the victims, with a high proportion of children as well as the interplay between examination requests in emergency settings and the need to define more accurate criteria and proceedings for legal authorities and physicians who are usually the first line of intervention before specialists in legal medicine.
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Brown Séquard syndrome is an uncommon incomplete spinal cord injury with ipsilateral motor and proprioception loss and contralateral pain and temperature loss. A 14-year-old student with classic Brown Séquard syndrome after pen assault injury by his classmate in posterior neck area presented here; with medical and supportive care, the patient was discharged with good outcome. Brown Séquard syndrome is mostly due to penetrating trauma. Several types of penetrating objects have been reported but this appears to be the first report of a pen or pencil injury.
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J Clin Forensic Med · Feb 2006
A retrospective case series of skeletal surveys in children with suspected non-accidental injury.
The skeletal survey is widely used as the principal radiological investigation in suspected physical abuse of infants and young children. However, the evidence on which current guidelines are based is limited, especially for siblings of index cases. We conducted a retrospective study to describe the characteristics of children who underwent skeletal surveys for suspected non-accidental injury (NAI) in the Edinburgh area; to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of skeletal surveys; and to identify any predictive factors that might guide clinical practice. ⋯ The age of a child (<12 months) and type of presenting injury (overt fracture or head injury) are factors which can help the clinician to decide whether or not to obtain a skeletal survey. There remains a lack of evidence for the effectiveness of skeletal survey in the siblings of index children. Guidelines for the process of repeating uncertain skeletal surveys are needed.
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J Clin Forensic Med · Jan 2006
Review of forensic assessments of female referrals to the branch of legal medicine, Malatya region, Turkey--1996-2000.
It is well recognized that the most pervasive form in gender violence is violence against women by their intimate male partners. Domestic violence (DV) crosses all cultures, races, and socioeconomic levels, affecting people of all ages and both sexes, but particularly women and children. DV refers to the chronic physical, sexual and psychological maltreatment of one family member against another in order to control. ⋯ It is essential to identify to 'name' DV when it occurs. Recognizing the serious immediate and future long-term implications for health, multifaceted intervention is important. DV has to undergo some fundamental and far-reaching reformation in Turkey regarding how the legal system deals with it appropriately.
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In the 11-year period from January 1993 to December 2003, 61 homicide victims were autopsied in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. Documents concerning the age and sex of the victims, time of assault, method used for assault, location of fatal injuries and number of offenders involved were analyzed. Of the 61 victims of homicide, majority were males and most of them were between 21 and 30 years. ⋯ There were significantly more homicides over the weekends (Saturday and Sunday). 37.7% of the victims exhibited evidence of injuries due to sharp force trauma. Head injuries were more common. Multiple offenders were involved in 47.5% of cases whereas single offender was involved in 40.9%.