The significance of external body examination during crime scene investigation

Abstract

Precise activity of crime scene investigating physician is especially important for the further work of medical examiner. Factors that may significantly affect the activities of the investigating physician include advanced decay post mortem changes of the human body. Our first case deals with a man, where the physician stated heart failure as the cause of death. In the second case, the physician determined a disease of high blood pressure as the cause of death. In two other cases, bodies were found in advanced stage of decay changes - firstly, a dead body of man was found immersed to the middle of the body in a metal barrel full of rainwater, which presumed asphyxia by drowning; and secondly, a dead body of woman was found in the bush near highroad, where a syringe with unknown content was found near the body, which led to the suspicion of an overdose from a foreign substance. In the first case, the autopsy clearly confirmed that the death occurred as a result of the conduct of another person - throttling. The finding of medical examiner of the second case was a firearm injury of the head. In the last two cases, injuries from the effect of sharp instruments were found. The aim of the work was to demonstrate substantial discrepancies between autopsy findings of medical examiner and the findings of crime scene investigating physician. These findings point out at the importance of on-site inspection of the body as a unique and unrepeatable act and at no less importance of autopsy as an irreplaceable investigative method. Demonstrated cases point to the fact that putrid changes may mask serious mechanical damages, such as cutting or stabbing wounds. Finally, we can assume that the phenomenon of under-performed examination negatively affects the work of law enforcement.