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A syndicated work by :
Ramil S. Sasi Juan Gideon M. Rieza Jasmin C. Maramag Joefred Allan Marcelo Fritz Jared P. Afable Harnel Hernando Bryan Hernandez In Partial Fulfillment for Legal Medicine Prof. Dr./ Atty. Montemayor
WARNING!
Rated PG
3000 BC ancient Egyptians one of the first civilizations to practice the removal and examination of the internal organs of humans in the religious practice of mummification.
In 44 BC- JULIUS Caesar was the subject of an official autopsy after his murder (by rival senators), the physicians report noting that the second stab wound received was the fatal one.
Around 150 BC- ancient Roman legal practice had established clear parameters for autopsies
Modern Autopsy - derived from the Anatomists of the Renaissance. Giovanni Morgani (1682- 1771) -father of Anatomical Pathology. 19th century- Rudolf Virchow - established and published specific autopsy protocols.
Purpose?
To determine the cause of death; The state of health of the person before he/ she died; Whether any medical diagnosis and treatment before death was appropriate For the purposes of teaching or medical research
2. Clinical or Pathological Autopsy performed to diagnose a particular disease or for research purposes. Aims to determine, clarify, or confirm medical diagnoses that remained unknown or unclear prior to the patients death. 3. Anatomical or academic autopsies are performed by students of anatomy for study purpose only.
4. Virtual or medical imaging autopsies performed utilizing imaging technology only, primarily magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT)
To
demonstrate
all
external
and
internal
abnormalities, malformations and diseases. To detect, describe and measure injuries. To obtain samples (blood, urine and tissues) for microbiological, analysis. To retain relevant organs and tissues as evidence. To obtain photographs and video films for evidential histological and toxicological
Provide interpretation and correlation of facts related to death Provide factual, objective medical report
The following manner of death should be autopsied: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Death by violence Accidental deaths Suicides Sudden death of persons who are in good health Death unattended by physician D.O.A. With no clinical diagnosis Death occuring in an unnatural manner.
Official Autopsy
Done on those who died of nonnatural causes No Need of consent of the next of kin Always a TOTAL autopsy
Done to those who died of natural causes Consent from next of kin is needed they will decide whether it will be a Total or Partial autopsy
Mistakes in Autopsy
1. Error or omission in the collection of evidence for identification 2. Errors or omission in the collection of evidence required for establishing the time of death. 3. Errors or omission in the collection of evidence required for the medico- legal examination 4. Errors or omission result in the production of undesirable artifacts or in the destruction of valid evidence.
Negative Autopsy . -After the autopsy, cause of death is still unknown Negligent Autopsy -cause of death is still unknown because of so many errors committed during the autopsy.
Section 95. Autopsy and Dissection of Remains The autopsy and dissection of remains are subject to the following requirements: (a) Person authorized to perform these are: 1. Health officers; 2. Medical officers of law enforcement agencies; and 3. Members of the medical staff of accredited hospitals.
(c) Autopsies may be performed on patients who die in accredited hospitals subject to the following requirements:
1. The Director of the hospital shall notify the next of kin of the death of the deceased and request permission to perform an autopsy. 2. Autopsy can be performed when the permission is granted or no objection is raised to such autopsy within 48 hours after death. 3. In cases where the deceased has no next of kin, the permission shall be secured from the local health authority. 4. Burial of remains after autopsy After an autopsy, the remains shall be interred in accordance with the provisions in this Chapter.
References
Legal Medicine, Antonio Rebosa, Ll.B., M.D. (2011)