Pressing need for national governmental recognition of forensic anthropology in South Africa as illustrated in a medico-legal case.

Forensic anthropology in South Africa is well developed in the higher education sector, with advanced training and research programmes. Despitethis and decades of academic involvement in casework, forensic anthropology still lacks a defined framework and mandate ata governmentallevel. Therefore, the involvement of forensic anthropologists' expertise varies markedly between cases, provinces, and among various stakeholderswithinthe country, to the detriment of dispensation of social and criminal justice. The lack ofclearly defined guidelines for the renderingof the service was exemplified and demonstrated through a recent forensic case. Here,contextual information was absent, and the remains posed a challenge to analyse, ostensibly due tomissing information. Numerous questions were raised during the analysis of the remains, and broader concerns about the investigative involvement of a forensic anthropologist within South African casework were brought to the fore. Through the analysis of this case, we describe the deductive processes that led to the formation of an opinion that the skeletal linear defects were the result of taphonomic changes. In addition, we highlighthow these efforts where constrained and each step in theprocess unnecessarily hindered. Finally, we demonstrate the capacity andwillingness offorensic anthropology practitioners to be involved, and how, withoutgovernmentalsupport, it is a great potential lamentably untapped.

Double rarity: an unusual case of bromoform poisoning detected by post-mortem radiography.

Bromoform ingestion and toxicity is a rare finding. Historically, bromoform was therapeutically prescribed as a sedative in whooping cough, and accidental overdoses occurred mainly in children. Bromoform is used in various industries. In the twenty-first century, bromoform ingestion can occur in the form of chlorinated water such as in pools and drinking water. We present a case report where the initial history and circumstances of death were unknown. A pre-autopsy full-body X-ray image using the Lodox® Xmplar-dr scanner revealed a dense radiopaque material in the stomach and intestines. This radiological finding proved vital in the approach and subsequent follow-up of the case.