Forensic Dentistry, Second Edition

death investigation systems 53

history of the decedent by interviewing family members or acquaintances,

or by obtaining medical records from hospitals or physicians. They may be

responsible for transporting decedents from death scenes or hospitals to the

ME office, fingerprinting bodies, inventorying personal effects and medica-

tions, and admitting and releasing bodies from the morgue. Alternatively,

some or all of these duties may be shared with other sections of the office.

In large offices, the investigation section is usually composed of a number of

full-time employees. In smaller offices, much of the investigative functions

may be performed by the forensic pathologist or other staff.

The medical or autopsy section includes forensic pathologists and the

technicians who assist them in performing examinations of decedents

(Figure 4.2). These examinations may take the form of full or limited

autopsy examinations, or be limited to external examination of the body.

The extent of the examination will be determined by the medical examiner

after reviewing the decedent’s medical history and circumstances of death.

In elderly individuals or those with extensive and potentially fatal medi-

cal histories, found dead under circumstances that indicate a death due to

natural causes, examination may be limited to external inspection of the

body to exclude any evidence of trauma. On the other hand, in cases of acute

traumatic death, particularly in the case of apparent homicide, a full autopsy

will generally be indicated. In most cases, blood and other body fluids or

tissues will be drawn at the time of examination for submission to the toxi-

cology laboratory at the discretion of the forensic pathologist. Trace evidence

Figure 4.2 the body is prepared for examination in the autopsy room. note
the well-lit area for examination, with an area for dissection of organs by the
physician.