A Statistical Analysis on Forensic Autopsy in Busan Area in 2006: The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Pusan National University / 대한법의학회지

This study was aimed to analyse the cause and manner of death on 297 cases of forensic autopsy performed at Institute of Forensic Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, referred by law enforcement agencies in Busan and parts of Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk from Mar. 2006 to Dec. 2006. In Busan, total 233 cases of autopsy was performed among 1,040 cases of postmortem inspection on the spot (autopsy rate: 22.4%). Among the total 297 cases, male was 197 cases (66.3%) and female 100 (33.7%). The age of forties and fifties occupied almost half (141 cases : 47.5%) of cases. By the manner of death, there were 216 cases of unnatural deaths (72.7%), 76 natural deaths (25.6%), and 5 unknown (1.7%). Among unnatural deaths, there were 35 cases of suicide (16.2%), 89 homicide (41.2%), 68 accident (31.5%), and 24 undetermined (11.1%). By the cause of death, unnatural deaths was classified as 117 cases of traumatic deaths (54.2%), 26 asphyxia (12.0%), 23 thermal injuries (10.6%), 18 medical procedures (8.3%), 15 poisoning (6.9%), 13 drowning (6.0%). Among 76 natural deaths, there were 49 cases of cardiac diseases (64.5%), 10 diseases involving vascular system (13.2%), and 6 diseases involving digestive system (7.9%).

Incidence of Subconjunctival Petechiae by Type of Hanging / 대한법의학회지

Hanging is traditionally classified as complete, incomplete by the completeness of suspension and typical, atypical by the point of suspension and location of knot. It has been well known that the signs of hanging including subconjunctival petechiae are different according to the type of hanging. We evaluated the incidence of subconjunctival petechiae on 260 cases of hanging and classified the point of suspension and location of knot, ligature mark, and position on cases with subconjunctival petechiae. The subconjunctival petechiae was found in 33.6% of all cases, mostly seen in incomplete, atypical hanging. However, about 30% of incomplete, atypical hanging showed no definite subconjunctival petechiae. The patterns of location of ligature mark, type of knot, and position were somewhat different between positive and negative cases of subconjunctival petechiae in incomplete, atypical hanging.

Fatal Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from Incomplete Combustion of Charcoal Briquets: Effect on Public Health of Forensic Medical Expert's Announcement Through the Mass Media / 대한법의학회지

Carbon monoxide poisoning is probably one of the most common toxic condition to be met with the routine forensic practice. Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-irritating gas whose relative density is a little less than that of air. The most common source of carbon monoxide in death are fires, automobile exhaust, defected heaters, and incomplete combustion of burning products, such as charcoal briquets. Suicidal deaths caused by carbon monoxide are mostly involve inhalation of automobile exhaust and rarely incomplete combustion of charcoal briquets. We recently experienced three cases of suicidal carbon monoxide death by using the carbon monoxide produced by incomplete combustion of charcoal briquets. These deaths were subsequently occurred after forensic medical expert's announcement of accidental carbon monoxide death occurred at shellfish grill restaurant through the television. And we presents four cases of carbon monoxide death with considering of the social effects of forensic medical expert's announcement through the mass media.