A case of sudden death following minor intentional trauma; pathologist's contribution to the decision on the manner of death

Abstract

Sudden death following trauma arouses a huge public interest. This in turn leads the investigators to take stern actions at the outset. Thorough post-mortem examination by a pathologist is an essential part of the medico-legal investigation of such deaths. A seemingly direct violence related death can end up as a natural death at the end of the post-mortem examination1. Similarly there can be limitations to the opinions that can be expressed by the pathologist at the end of the post-mortem examination for forensic pathologists are not Sherlock Holmes. We report a case of a man who died immediately after trauma due to a natural disease. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljfmsl.v3i1.4945 Sri Lanka Journal of Forensic Medicine, Science & Law-May 2012-Vol.3 No.1 pp.7-9