ABSTRACT
In France, families of the deceased raised concerns as regards to the conditions of restoration of body. If scientists hospital autopsies are organized by the Bioethics Law of August 6, 2004, the forensic autopsies were so far not provided with such a legal framework. The legislator has proposed the creation of a new chapter in the Code of Criminal Procedure institutionalizing forensic activities. This legislative evolution allows the harmonization of practices; forensic pathologists must be involved in these changes by bringing their scientific expertise, notably through improving their autopsy techniques.
Subject(s)
Autopsy/methods , Forensic Medicine , Integumentary System/pathology , Plastic Surgery Procedures , Autopsy/ethics , Coroners and Medical Examiners , Forensic Medicine/ethics , Forensic Medicine/legislation & jurisprudence , Forensic Medicine/methods , Forensic Pathology/ethics , Forensic Pathology/legislation & jurisprudence , Forensic Pathology/methods , Human Body , Humans , Integumentary System/surgery , Professional-Family Relations , Plastic Surgery Procedures/ethics , Plastic Surgery Procedures/legislation & jurisprudence , Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods , Plastic Surgery Procedures/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
This report describes a suicide case by acute arsenic intoxication via intravenous injection. A 30-year-old woman injected arsenic As (V) (sodium arseniate disodique: Disodium Hydrogena Arsenik RP) in a successful suicide attempt. Three hours following administration, the woman developed severe digestive symptoms. She was admitted to a hospital and transferred to the intensive care unit within 12 h of the massive administration of arsenic. Despite therapeutic efforts, over the next 2 h she developed multiorgan failure and died. A postmortem examination was performed. Pulmonary edema and congestion of liver were apparent. As (V) and As (III) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after mineralization of samples by concentrated nitric acid. Toxicological analysis revealed high concentrations of arsenic in biological fluids as well as in organs. Histopathological examination showed a typical indication of myocarditis. These findings were in agreement with acute arsenic poisoning. The symptoms developed by this young woman (intoxication by intravenous administration) were comparable to oral intoxication. The clinical signs, survival time, and administration type are discussed in light of the literature on acute and chronic arsenic poisoning.
Subject(s)
Arsenic Poisoning/diagnosis , Adult , Arsenic/administration & dosage , Arsenic/analysis , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Female , Forensic Pathology , Forensic Toxicology , Humans , Injections, Intravenous , Liver/pathology , Lung/pathology , Mass Spectrometry , Multiple Organ Failure/chemically induced , Myocardium/pathology , Pulmonary Edema/pathology , SuicideABSTRACT
Described here is a case of suicide with the use of a chainsaw. A female suffering from schizophrenia committed suicide by an ingenious use of a chainsaw that resulted in the transection of her cervical spine and spinal cord. The findings of the resulting investigation are described and the mechanism of suicides with the use of a chainsaw is reviewed. A dry bone study was realized to determine the bone sections, the correlation between anatomic lesions and characteristics of chainsaw. The damage of organs and soft tissues is compared according to the kinds of chainsaw used.
