Autopsy: Traditional Jewish laws and customs "Halacha".

Judaism has many traditions, customs, rules, and laws, which relate to the proper and ethical disposition of a decedent when a Medical Examiner/ Coroner is involved. In almost all United States jurisdictions, statutes mandate the need to determine the cause and manner of death (Coroners' Act PA Pl. 323, num. 130, section 1237). This article is a review of some religious writings, legal precedents, and forensic authorities, which may help to assist the Medical Examiner/Coroner when confronted with a Jewish decedent. There can be flexibility as to the extent that such forensic studies can and should be performed. The final consent and interpretation of the rules, laws, traditions, and customs will rest with the courts and local rabbinic authority.

Identifying skeletal remains found in a sewer.

BACKGROUND: Dental identification of skeletal remains frequently is accomplished via comparison of antemortem and postmortem radiographs. When dental radiographs are unavailable or of poor quality, the dentist may have to rely on other evidence such as study models, head and neck radiographs and anthropological examination results. The authors present a case report in which all of these modalities were used to identify skeletal remains. CASE DESCRIPTION: The skeletal remains of a female adolescent found in a retention sewer were identified as those of a 14-year-old girl who had disappeared from her home one year earlier. The identification was based on anthropological findings, a comparison of antemortem and postmortem study models, and a comparison of antemortem and postmortem radiographs. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS; Dentists who are called on by local authorities to assist with the identification of skeletal remains must be familiar with ways in which dental comparisons can be made when periapical radiographs, bitewing radiographs or both are unavailable.

The efficiency of an X-ray screening system at a mass disaster.

This is a study to determine the efficiency and efficacy of using an X-ray security screening system to locate both dental fragments and other foreign objects that might be commingled with fragmented remains in a mass disaster. A controlled study by the Pennsylvania Dental Identification Team (PADIT) revealed that a manual examination of simulated body bags containing commingled dental parts and foreign objects by a team of trained forensic odontologists was very effective in locating dental fragments and in finding foreign objects. Although this was effective, it was not efficient, because it was very time consuming. With the use of an X-ray security screening system, the time factor could be reduced. This study also revealed that even though this sophisticated equipment could reduce the time factor in locating commingled dental and foreign objects, a forensic odontologist should be utilized to be most effective.