Study for Lists of Forensic Autopsy Request: Quantitative Analysis about Documents Relating to Autopsy Request / 대한법의학회지

ABSTRACT

In the Republic of Korea, relevant documents are submitted to forensic doctors or agencies when courts grant confiscation warrants for autopsy. If the essential data on unusual death are not submitted at the time of the autopsy, it may be difficult to properly understand the situation relating to an unusual death prior to the autopsy, thus reducing the accuracy of the autopsy. As many as 6,133 out of 6,610 autopsy data (92.8%) in the Republic of Korea in 2015 were analyzed. Most autopsy appraisal requests (99.8%) were submitted. Unusual death occurrence reports (86.0%) and command recommendations of unusual death (70.3%) were submitted in many cases. However, prosecutor commands on unusual death were submitted only in 27.8% cases, and confiscation warrants were not submitted in 7.4% cases. As for postmortem inspection and death scene investigation reports, 29.3% and 34.1% cases were submitted, respectively. In addition to the above two documents, death certificates and records of statement of a relative had significant regional variations (0.3%–80.1%, 3.1%–64.7%, 27.8%–81.3%, and 40.8%–96.8%, respectively). For postmortem inspection and death scene photos, 2.7% and 3.2% were submitted in black-and-white photographs, respectively. The authors propose a list of forensic autopsy requests including autopsy appraisal requests, unusual death occurrence reports, command recommendations of unusual deaths, prosecutor commands on unusual death, and confiscation warrants unconditionally, as an essential document reflecting the progress of investigations. We suggest that postmortem inspection reports and photos, death scene investigation reports and photos, and death certificates should be included as part of postmortem investigation data.