dental identification in multiple Fatality incidents 257
Once the examination is complete, the computer operator reads back all the
recorded data for the leader and assistant to verify as quality control. Quality
control is a team effort and all checks should lead to the production of a
pristine postmortem record with photographs, radiographs, and charting.
If done properly, there should be no need to reexamine the case until final
release verification after a positive identification has been made.
The antemortem section has three main goals: (1) obtain dental infor-
mation on all missing persons from the MFI, (2) enter this information into
computers to create the antemortem records on each missing person, and
(3) perform comparisons and make dental identifications using the informa-
tion that they and the postmortem section have gathered. The antemortem
section, perhaps, has the most difficult job in the odontology section. They
are responsible for gathering information on dentists of record, working with
investigators to assess needs for further information searches, and translat-
ing the records of treating dentists into a standard form for comparisons.
When all of the postmortem work is completed, the antemortem section is
still working and busy up to the close of the overall operation. There has been
some concern about Heath Insurance and Portability Accountability Act of
1996 (HIPAA) rulings for dental records. According to 45 CFR 164.512(g),
“HIPAA Exemption for Medical Examiners and Coroners,” dental records
needed for identification purposes do not fall under HIPAA regulations and
can be released and sent with no repercussions for the attending dentist.
Figure 12.1 dental morgue, st. Gabriel, louisiana, after hurricane Katrina.
at each station the leader and assistant work together in a postmortem pas de
deux as the computer operator choreographs each step. an assistant using an
aribex™ nomad™ handheld x-ray generator can be seen on the far left. the body
trackers in the foreground are waiting to move each gurney to the next station.