Archiwum medycyny sa̧dowej i kryminologii
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Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol · Jul 2007
Review[Depression --the most pragmatic diagnosis in medico-legal opinionating].
As it follows from the expertise practice of the authors, broadly understood "depression syndrome" is the most common diagnosis occurring in sick-leave certificates provided for legal procedures to the court. This problem is encountered in penal, civil and insurance cases. ⋯ Hence, several questions emerge: (1) Why does such a particular diagnosis prevail? (2) Is there another disease entity in psychiatry, which has such a broadly reactive background? On the basis of a particular case the authors formulate the problem of the appropriately understood interest of the patient. Does the current protection against broadly understood legal consequences cause the patient to fixate on the defense mechanisms and -- in consequence -- degradation of his functioning?
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Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol · Jul 2007
Review[Comments on histopathology examinations in forensic medicine -- the importance, indications and basic principles of preserving the tissues].
Histopathology examinations and their usefulness in postmortem diagnosis and medico-legal expertise have always been regarded extremely important by the Faculty of the Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine at the Medical University of Gdansk. The authors postulate acceptance of indication criteria for histopathology examination in forensic autopsies and propose rules for collecting tissue samples from internal organs and the placenta. They also remind the readers of the principles of proceeding with the preserved material. The present paper may be helpful for doctors other than forensic pathologists, who perform autopsies in institutions other than university departments of forensic medicine.
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Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol · Jul 2007
Review[Spinal cord injuries -- opinions represented by neurologists].
Neurologists distinguish two mechanisms of spinal cord injury (SCI): a closed injury and a penetrating injury. A mechanical damage to the spinal cord, particularly to its central segment, results in a secondary injury to the nervous tissue (such as ischemia and spinal cord edema). A neurological examination following SCI is primarily aimed at the injury assessment and evaluation on rating scales. ⋯ Sixty one percent of the injured parties are between the ages of 16 and 30 years. Nearly one half of SCI cases results from traffic accidents. The most frequently affected segments include the cervical spinal cord (C1-C8) level and the thoracolumbar (ThL) spinal cord.
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Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol · Apr 2007
[Opinionating on the cause of poisoning and death in fire victims].
In the years 1995-2005, 273 cases of fatalities resulting from a fire were investigated in the Chair of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice. To explain the circumstances and determine the cause of death, in each case, autopsies, as well as toxicological determinations of toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide or hydrogen cyanide, were carried out. Alcohol intoxication status of the victims was also determined. Based on the obtained results, comprehensive toxicological and medico-legal opinions on the cause of death of all the examined fire-associated fatalities were done.