Forensic Medicine

Fo r e n s i c P a t h o l o g y S e c t i o n

Chen Xiameng
Associate Professor
Department of Forensic Pathology
Sichuan University
RULEs
 Roll-call:
in the begining / during class

 Final score:
classroom performance 50%+final exam 50%

 Final exam:
case analysis/ thesis, NO plagiarize
 W h a t i s Fo r e n s i c
Science?

Forensic science refers to application of various fields of science and

technology to establish facts about a crime and find evidence that can be
used in both civil and criminal law.

“Forensic” Latin word “forensis”: before the forum

F i e l d s o f Fo r e n s i c
Science
Computational forensics. It involves the use of computational science to study and
solve problems of various fields of forensic science.
Digital forensics. It specialises in recovering data from electronic and digital media.
Forensic accounting. It examines and studies evidence related to accountancy such as
insurance claims, frauds, personal injury claims, breach of contract, etc.
Forensic anthropology. It refers to application of anthropology and osteology to
determine facts involving a human body in advanced stage of decomposition.
Forensic archaeology. This field of forensic science employs archaeological methods to
identify evidence of crime.
Forensic astronomy. Application of celestial constellations to solve problems relevant to
law is relatively rare. It is most often used to solve historical problems.
Forensic botany. Plant leaves, seeds, pollen and other plant life on the crime scene,
victim or the accused can provide strong evidence of presence of the accused on the
crime scene, relocation of the victim, time scales of the crime, etc.
Forensic chemistry. It is focused on the study of illicit drugs, gunshot residue and other
chemical substances relevant to both civil and criminal law.
Forensic dactyloscopy. It refers to gathering, preservation and study of fingerprint
evidence.
Forensic psychology. It involves the application of psychological knowledge and
F i e l d s o f Fo r e n s i c
Science
Forensic document examination. It examines, studies and determines facts
about documents in dispute in a court.** Besides handwriting, it also involves
examination of the paper itself, ink, alterations, additions, signatures, etc.
Forensic DNA analysis. This field of forensic science focuses on collection and
study of DNA evidence that can be used in the court.
Forensic entomology. It studies insects found on the scene of crime or victim and
is particularly helpful for determining the time and location of the victim’s death.
Forensic geology. It involves application of geological factors such as soil and
minerals to gather evidence related to crime.
Forensic linguistics. It refers to the study of the language relevant for legal
proceedings. Examples include emergency calls, voice identification, ransom
demands, suicide letters, etc.
Forensic meteorology. It involves application of weather elements to determine
facts about a crime. It is most often used in cases involving insurance companies
and murders.
Forensic odontology. It refers to the study of dental evidence.
Forensic pathology. This field of forensic science deals with examination of a
corpse and determining things such as cause of death.
Forensic podiatry. It refers to the study of footprint evidence.
Fo r e n s i c Pa t h o l o g y

Forensic pathology is a field of forensic science which

involves application of pathological methods in investigation
of a crime and of sudden, suspicious or unexplained deaths.
A forensic pathologist examines bodies in order to
determine the cause of death and circumstances
surrounding the cause of death as well as looks for evidence
that can be used in trials. Forensic pathologists are also
known as medical examiners/coroners.
 Who Can Become a
Fo r e n s i c Pa t h o l o g i s t
13+ years of post high school education and training.
heavily relies on biology, chemistry, physics, and other core
sciences
1. get an undergraduate degree in a medical or science
discipline
2. completing a four-year medical school program to become
a M.D.
3. pass a licensing exam to become a M.D.
Forensic pathologists can become 4.
only individuals
enroll who
a four-year have completed
residency required
in anatomic and clinical
training which varies slightly frompathology.
one country to another. Typically, they are medical
doctors who have completed anatomic
5. go pathology
through anand then
extra sub-specialised
one-year in the field of
of forensic pathology
forensic pathology.
Ta s k s : 5 “ W ”
• WHY
cause of death, main task
• W H AT  accident
 suicide
manner of death murder
C I R C U M S TA N C E  natural
 uncertain
• WHERE the “scene”, not limited to one

• WHO personal identification

• WHEN
H o w d o Fo r e n s i c
Pathologists Do
1. postmortem examination-
surface
• recorded accurately!
• positive and negative findings
• injury/lesions/changes
• take photos
H o w d o Fo r e n s i c
Pathologists Do
2. autopsy

• in situ examination
• acquire organs

3. histological examination
CASE
In February 2013, at the Cecil Hotel, Los
Angeles, California, a hotel tenant
complained that the tap water had a bad
taste.

Later, a staff came to the top floor and

prepared to open the water tank to check the
water. When the lid was opened, he smelled
a stench. At this time, someone exclaimed:
"There is athe
 Why did woman's body."
deceased appear in the hotel's
water storage tank?
 Judging from the signs of the deceased, has
she been infringed?
 Why did the deceased disappear for many
days in the hotel?
The “Cecil”
List of deaths and violence at the Cecil
Hotel
List of deaths and violence at the Cecil
Hotel
List of deaths and violence at the Cecil
Hotel
CASE

Elisa Lan, Canadian, DOB: 1991.xx.xx

2013.xx.xx, Lan took a trip alone in the US.
During the trip, Lan called her family everyday.
2013.01.28, Lan checked in at the Cecil hotel.
2013.01.31, her family did not receive her
phonecall, thus they contacted the police of the
Los Angeles.
CASE-Discussion  VEDIO
Questionable points

 Strange behavior (escaping from

someone? talking to someone?)

 The door of the elevator kept open

 Staff: lid of the water tank was closed

 Naked
 Determination

Forensic toxicology
 Strange behavior Bipolar disorder
Forensic psychology

 The door of the elevator kept open“L” button Crime scene investigation
 Staff: lid of the water tank was closedacturally open
Crime scene investigation
 Naked Abnormal take-off Forensic pathology
Chapter 1.

Changes after
Death
What are they?
Postmoterm Changes

• Early<24h
• Late >24h
Early
changes
Gradually occur • Eyeball: soft.

• Cornea reflex: lost

• Skin and lips: pale

• Flaccidity of the muscle

......
 Turbidity of
Cornea
mucopolysaccharid
e
&
water

5~6h: white spot

~12h: slight
~24h: medium
>48h: heavy
 COOLING OF THE DEAD BODY

37℃ (mouth)

Living persons
38℃ (deep rectal)

Dead

?
 COOLING OF THE DEAD BODY

Significance: timing of death

• <5 h: fall 1 ℃ per hour
• >5 h: fall 1/2℃ per hour
 COOLING OF THE DEAD BODY

Contributing factors

External factors Internal

factor
• environment • body weight
temperature
• age
• humidity
• disease
• ventilation
...
• clothes
...
 COOLING OF THE DEAD BODY
-Measuring

How?

1. Thermometer: >7~10cm over the

rectum
2. Environmental temperature
RIGOR MORTIS

Defi nition:
After death, the
dead body become

Why? stiff at variable

time.
RIGOR MORTIS- Mechanism
RIGOR MORTIS

 Fe a t u r e :

s m a l l m u s c l e g r o u p - - j a w m u s c l e , fi n g e r, e y e , m o u t h
↓

12~24 hrs to the whole body joint.

what's the contributing factors?

 6~ ~ 12h r s str e n g th of r igid ity in cr e ase

th e man u al de str oy e d r igi dity can r e app e ar e d

RIGOR MORTIS
 12~ ~ 24 h r s str on ge r
 Contributing factors

1. Temperature dependent:
 warm-------- more quickly
● Cold ---------delayed
● In freezing---may not appear

2. Absent/ weak: the old, the feeble, and infant.

3. Quickly/ strong: young person, strong person, death
from asphyxia, electrocution or sudden death.
The rigidity gradually disappear,
and the second fl accidity become
apparent from 24 ~~ 48 hours.

 Warm and fl accid : dead < 3 hours

 Warm and stiff :dead in 3~~8 hours
 Cold and stiff : dead in 8 ~~36 hours
 Cold and fl accid: dead > 36 hours
Signifi cance

1. An evidance of death;
2. To determine if a body is moved after death;
3. Infer the cause of death;
4. To estimate PMI.
RIGOR MORTIS ?
 CADAVERIC SPASM

In a certain part, the rigor mortis happens immediately after

death, so it keeps the original posture right before death.

S i g n i fi c a n c e : t o i n f e r t h e m a n n e r o f d e a t h .
CADAVERIC SPASM

Vigorous Muscular Activity

/ Severe Stress
?
 Livor Mortis

Circulation X
gravity

blood - bottom
area

bluish or pink
zone
 Livor Mortis

pale
areas?
 Livor Mortis
 An Indicate the
Livor 1
evidence of
death
2
contact
surface
Mortis
Signifi cance
To
determine

3
if a body
was moved
after death.
Signifi cance 4: PMI

Finger press:
 ch an ge in to pale : < 12 h r s
 par tly ch an ge in to p al e : 12~ 24
hrs
 r e mai n th e color : > 24 h r s
Signifi cance 5: CAUSE OF DEATH

• Pink -- when stored in cold

• Deep purple -- asphyxia, sudden cardiac
death
• Cherry pink -- carbon monoxide poisoning
• Brick red -- cyanide poisoning
• Brownish -- metahemoglobinamia
 a. Cause

Signifi cance b. Location

6: c. Distribution
d. Color
LM VS subcutaneous
hemorrhage before death e. Surface
f. F i n g e r p r e s s
g. Move the position of the body
h. Cut- bleeding blood clot
Late Postmoterm
Changes

 Destructive

 Preserved
Part I.
Destruction
Putrefaction
Molded cadaver
Skeletonized remains
Animal destroyed

Avoid confusing them with signs of

trauma or unnatural death!
 Mechanism:
cell autolysis + bacterial growth
1.
Putrefaction Nature:
decomposition of protein under the
function of putrefying bacteria
Greenish
discoloration
on cadaver
H2S+hemoglobin=sulfhemoglobi
n
Subcuteneous gas bleb

Corruption gas
bleb → blister → broken
Bloated
cadaver
Putrefactive
network
Postmortem vomitting

stomach contents →mouth &

nose
Postmortem delivery

Others: anus, faeces, uterus, vagina

 insects (forensic
entomology)
 odor of putrefaction

...
2.Molded
cadavor
3.Skeletonized remains

Soft tissue decomposed

Summer: 2~4 wks

Spring/Autum: 5~6 wks
Winter: months

*In soil: 3~4yrs

 Part II.
Preserved Corpse

soft tissue

putrefaction prevented
1. MUMMY
dry, leathery, and brown
C o n d i t i o n : w a r m / h o t , d r y, a i r y

wate r con te n t 50% ↓ -

pr oli f e r ation of b acte r ia ×

putrefaction prevented
2. Adipocere

Wet soil / water Fat saponification

(3~6m↑)
3.C adaver t anne d i n p eat b o g

Putrefaction ×

Acid condition Skin tanned

Bones
decalcificated
4. Maceration

8wks↑ dead fetus

staying in amniotic
fluid

unresolved

small soft
Summary