The Challenges in Autopsy Cases Exposed to Animal Attack

Abstract

Discrimination between antemortem and postmortem lesions inflicted by animals from other traumas, and contribution of these injuries to the cause of death which is often encountered in forensic autopsies may cause some difficulties. Detailed identification, and, evaluation of bite marks which has the depth and shape of the teeth and jaw of the animal interfering to the cadaver, tissue losses, paw and tooth marks nd vital signs must be performed during autopsy. Current autopsy reports filed in the Morgue Department of Council of Forensic Medicine between the years of 1996 and 2001 had been retrospectively screened and various cases inflicted by animals during antemortem, perimortem and postmortem periods had been included in the study in order to determine emerging problems in autopsy cases with signs of animal attack and develop recommendations for points to be considered in these cases. Location of animal attack, severity of injury, typical wound characteristics, differential diagnosis among other lesions, the cause of death and effects on identification of the victim and consequences in terms of forensic medicine were evaluated based on autopsy reports of 130 cases. Postmortem (n=129 cases) and antemortem (n=1) signs of animal attack were detected. Lesions were commonly caused by marine animals, and observed on the head region. The identity of the victims, and cause of death couldn't be determined in 22, and 48 % of the cases, respectively. When we consider the problems encountered during phases of determination of the cause and type of death and identification of the signs of postmortem animal scavening, the importance of forensic medicine approach in crime scene investigation on antemortem and/or postmortem animal attacks, identifying the profile of the offending animal and the challenging autopsy procedure becomes much more clear.