The progression from disaster victim identification (DVI) to disaster victim management (DVM): a necessary evolution

Abstract

This issue of Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology presents a wide range of papers that deal with all aspects of disaster victim identification (DVI). The focus of many of the submissions has been on the expanding role of individual disciplines, the refining and integration of services, the formulation and implementation of international protocols, and the overview of processes to ensure that they are fulfilling their role appropriately. In short, this issue demonstrates the evolution of simple victim identification into the complex integrated approach that is now seen in so many of these events. It encompasses all aspects of such exercises that should now be included under the broader umbrella of disaster victim management (DVM), rather than merely identification. This issue deliberately contains many papers that do not represent original research, but instead summarize approaches to situations and methodology. This resulted from a decision by the editors to make this issue useful as a handbook for developing local DVI/M programs, in addition to being able to be taken to disaster areas as a practice manual. Previous papers in the journal have dealt with practical aspects of constructing facilities in disaster areas, as well as on the problems that may arise from difficult work being conducted in under-resourced and sometime isolated locations by a large number of individuals with different nationalities, languages and experience [1, 2]. In this issue the scope of topics has expanded considerably. One of the fundamental requirements in disaster situations with multiple fatalities is the correct identification of victims [3]. Original papers in this issue that provide data to improve the evaluation of victims include an approach to age estimation in children based on an assessment of both dental and cervical vertebral maturation [4] and an examination of teeth and cranial size in assisting with the determination of gender [5]. A Commentary by Bassed gives an overview of methods of age estimation [6] and a Letter to the Editor by Wikwanitkit [7] draws attention to possible confounders of age estimation in children. The potential roles of experts in particular fields have been reviewed for anthropologists [8], biologists [9], dentists [10] and pathologists [11]. Training and education in DVI/M is something that is often discussed, but which is usually undertaken at a local level without the benefit of established guidelines or an agreed upon philosophical approach. Winskog et al. [12] discuss an educational approach to DVI/M with Rutty et al. [13] providing suggestions for organizers of DVI/M training events on how to increase the training value for participants. A template for setting up an emergency mortuary facility is provided by Eitzen and Zimmerman [14]. Several papers deal with specific situations. For example, Schou and Knudsen [15] discuss the work of Danish teams in Thailand following the 2004 tsunami, and one of the guest editors, Calle Winskog, reports on issues that arose with the identification of the remains of a group of African men, victims of human trafficking, who were found in a boat drifting in the Caribbean, and also on the approach to DVI/M situations that occur in underwater environments [16, 17]. Although the paper by Hoyer et al. [18] only deals with two cases, it clearly demonstrates how C. Winskog R. W. Byard (&) Discipline of Anatomy and Pathology, Level 3 Medical School North Building, The University of Adelaide, Frome Road, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia e-mail: roger.byard@sa.gov.au