A Statistical Analysis on Legal Autopsy in Chung-cheong Area of Korea in 2004: The Central District of National Institute of Scientific Investigation / 대한법의학회지

We reviewed forensic autopsies and scene examinations performed at Central District of National Institute of Scientific Investigation, requested by every kinds of law enforecement agencies in Chungcheong area of Korea during the year of 2004, and analysed the data of forensic autopsies and scene examinations according to the cause of death and the manner of death. The results are as follows ; 1. Scene examination on the spot was performed in 49 cases ; Among these cases, 36 cases(73.5%) were unnatural deaths and the most common cause of death was trauma(20 cases). Autopy was performed in 23 cases(46.9%). 2. The total number of forensic autopsy were 643 cases(437 males and 206 females). The number of the forties(156 cases) and the thirties(114 cases) occupied almost half(42.0%) of all cases of autopsy. 3. Unnatural deaths were 448 cases(69.7%), natural 169 cases(26.3%), and the unknown 26 cases(4.0%). In 448 cases of unnatural deaths, suicide was 133 cases(29.7%), homicide 180 cases(40.2%), accident 86 cases(19.2%), and the undetermined 49 cases(10.9%). Homicide occupied 70.2% of trauma, 65.2% of blunt force injury excluding traffic and fall-down injury, and 83.6% of sharp force injury. The homicide rate in asphyxia was 35.8%. It showed no case of homicide in poisoning. 4. In 448 cases of unnatural deaths, traumatic deaths were 198 cases(44.2%). Blunt trauma was 61 cases(30.8%) and the leading cause of death in traumatic death. Of remaining 250 cases of unnatural deaths, there were 67 cases(14.2%) of asphyxia, 63 cases(14.1%) of thermal injuries, 59 cases(13.2%) of drowning, 49 cases(10.9%) of poisoning, and 10 cases(2.2%) of medical procedures. 5. Among 169 natural deaths, cardiac diseases were 98 cases(56.0%) and the leading cause of death in natural deaths. 29 cases(17.2%) of diseases involving digestive system and 26 cases(15.4%) of disease involving vascular system were followed. 6. Child deaths under the age of 10 were 35 cases. Among these cases, unnatural deaths were 21 cases(60.0%) and most of them were homicide and accident.

A Statistical Analysis on Legal Autopsy in Chung-cheong Area of Korea in 2002: The Central District Office of National Institute of Scientific Investigation / 대한법의학회지

We reviewed forensic autopsies and scene examinations performed at Central District of National Institute of Scientific Investigation, requested by every kinds of law enforecement agencies in Chung-cheong area of Korea during the year of 2002, and analysed the data of forensic autopsies and scene examinations according to the cause of death and the maner of death. The results are as follows ; 1. Scene examination on the spot was performed in 18 cases ; Among these cases, 17 cases were unnatural deaths and the most common cause of death was thermal injury. Autopy was performed in all 18 cases. 2. The total number of forensic autopsy were 590 cases (399 males and 191 females). The number of the thirties (155 cases) and the forties (118 cases) occupied almost half (46.3%) of all cases of autopsy. 3. Unnatural deaths were 378 cases (64.1%), natural 177 cases (30.0%), and the unknown 35 cases (5.9%). In 378 cases of unnatural deaths, suicide was 63 cases (16.7%), homicide 135 cases (35.7%), accident 94 cases (24.9%), and the undetermined 86 cases (22.7%). Homicide occupied 60.1% of trauma, 65.0% of blunt force injury excluding traffic and fall-down injury, and 91.4% of sharp force injury. The homicide rate in asphyxia was 61.0%, but it went up to 89.3% excluding hanging. It showed only 1 cases (2.0%) of homicide in poisoning. 4. In 378 cases of unnatural deaths, traumatic deaths were 167 cases(44.2%). Blunt trauma was 60 cases (35.9%) and the leading cause of death in traumatic death. Of remaining 211 cases of unnatural deaths, there were 61 cases (16.1%) of thermal injuries, 49 cases (13.0%) of poisonings, 46 cases (13.0%) of drowning, 41 cases (10.8%) of asphyxia, 9 cases (2.3%) of medical procedures, 4 cases (1.1%) of electrocution, and one case of neglect. 5. Among 177 natural deaths, cardiovascular diseases were 113 cases(63.8%) and the leading cause of death in natural deaths. 30 cases(16.9%) of diseases involving digestive system were followed. 6. Child deaths under the age of 10 were 45 cases. Among these cases, homicide were 24 cases(53.4%) and most of them occurred in the preschool period.

A Statistical Analysis on Legal Autopsy in Chung-cheong Area of Korea in 2001: The Central District of National Institute of Scientific Investigation / 대한법의학회지

We evaluated the data of scene examinations and forensic autopsy cases performed in Chung-cheong area of Korea in 2001. This statistical analysis is the first report in this area. A total of 13 cases of medical examination and 480 cases of forensic autopsy were analysed. The summary of the results are ; 1. Scene examination on the spot performed 13 cases. Among these cases, 10 cases were unnatural death. 5 cases were not necessary for autopsy. 2. The number of male was 298 cases(62%) and that of female 169 (35%). Male was as 1.7 times as female. The thirties were 111 cases(23%), the forties 108 (23%), and these two decades occupied almost half(46%). 3. Unnatural deaths were 304 cases (63.3%), natural 133 cases (27.1%), and the unknown 43 cases (9.0%). Among 304 unnatural deaths, suicide was 42 cases(8.8%), homicide 110 cases (22.9%), accident 121 cases (25.2%), and the undetermined 31 cases (6.5%). Homicide occupied 50.4% of trauma, 60.9% of blunt force injury excluding traffic and fall-down injury, and 99.8% of sharp force injury. The homicide rate in asphyxia was 56.1%, but it went up to 67.6% excluding hanging. It showed only 2 cases (2.1%) of homicide in poisoning. 4. Traumatic deaths were 141 cases, occupying 46.4% of 304 unnatural deaths, followed by poisoning. Blunt trauma was 46 cases (32.6%) and the leading cause of death in traumatic death. Poisoning was 47 cases (15.5%), among which the agrochemicals were leading causes (46.8%). Thermal injuries were 32 cases (10.5%), electrocution 2 cases (0.7%), and starvation/neglect 2 cases (0.7%), and 16 cases were due to medical procedures(5.3%). 5. Among 133 natural deaths, heart disease were 74 cases (55.6%), and vascular diseases 23 (17.3%), so these cardiovascular diseases were added up to 97 cases (72.9%). 6. Child deaths under the age of 10 were 38 cases. Homicide was 20 cases (80%) out of 25 unnatural deaths. Neonates including still births were the leading period of age in unnatural death, counting 16 cases (42.1%).