Journal of forensic and legal medicine最新文献

{"title":"A child fatality as a result of electric shock while Urinating: an example of a rare penis injury","authors":"Ahmet Sedat Dündar ,&nbsp;İsmail Altın","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102878","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102878","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This report presents the case examination of a 23-month-old male who died as a result of electric shock after urinating on a 3-way electric socket. It was aimed to contribute to the literature with this case of an extremely rarely seen atypical electricity entry wound in the penis.</div></div><div><h3>Case</h3><div>Seasonal agricultural workers were living together with their families in a tent in a field in the province of Şanlıurfa, on the border of Türkiye with Syria. It was learned that the 23-month-old male child was found lying motionless on the ground on July 17, 2022, due to electric shock as a result of urinating on a 3-way electrric socket in the tent. The child was pronounced dead in the hospital and was transferred to our centre for a medicolegal autopsy to be performed. In the autopsy, an electricity entry wound was determined on the 2nd finger of the right hand and in the periurethral region at the tip of the penis. The histopathological examination of samples taken from these wounds determined findings consistent with electric shock and the consequent thermal effect.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>There is a need for more widespread education to increase the awareness of parents about the prevention of accidents originating from electrical systems set up in temporary living areas such as tents without sufficient safety precautions having been taken. It can be considered that deaths will be able to be reduced in Türkiye with increased inspections of those who have to live in tents for various reasons.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"113 ","pages":"Article 102878"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143874173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Patterns of suicide by jumping from height in Northern Tunisia: a 16-year autopsy study","authors":"Ikram Kort ,&nbsp;Ons Hmandi ,&nbsp;Syrine Azza Manoubi ,&nbsp;Khaled Bchir ,&nbsp;Mohamed Bellali ,&nbsp;Mohamed Allouche","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102881","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102881","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Suicide by jumping from height is a violent and relatively common method of suicide. There is little data on suicide by jumping from height in the Arab region and North African countries. In this study, we aim to analyze the patterns of suicide by jumping from height in Northern Tunisia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Autopsy records of all cases of suicide by jumping from height were included over a period of 16 years (January 2005 to December 2020). The collected data included epidemiological characteristics, medical history and autopsy observations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>we collected a total of 147 cases of suicide by jumping from height. Among the cases, 69.4 % were men. The average age of the cases was 41.8 <strong>±</strong> 16.4 years (range 15–85 years). A history of psychiatric disorder was reported in 58.5 % of cases. Schizophrenia was the most common psychiatric diagnosis (23.8 %), followed by depression (13.6 %). Among the cases, 27.9 % had a history of previous suicide attempt. The suicidal fall occurred most frequently in a private residence (70.8 %). The average height of the falls was 10.4 ± 7.3 m (range 2–50 m). The most frequent injury site was determined to be the head (70.1 %) followed by the chest (68 %), the spine (56 %). Skeletal trauma mainly included fractures of the ribs (75.5 %), the spine (56 %), the skull (53.5 %) and the pelvis (29.3 %).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Suicide by jumping from height is most common in young unemployed men, with psychiatric history, who jump from a private residence. This pattern would help planning preventive strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 102881"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143864938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the importance of post-mortem interval and other variables on the analysis of ethanol in the vitreous humour with a focus on ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate: A critical review","authors":"Beatrice Benedetti ,&nbsp;Matteo Marti ,&nbsp;Franco Tagliaro ,&nbsp;Fabio De-Giorgio","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102876","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102876","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vitreous humour is used to assess intoxication at the time of death due to its anatomical isolation, which reduces contamination risk. Toxicological analysis typically includes drugs and alcohol. For interpreting post-mortem ethanol concentrations, distinguishing between ante-mortem ingestion and post-mortem production from putrefaction is essential. For this purpose, biomarkers like ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) are crucial for confirming alcohol consumption.</div><div>Factors such as post-mortem interval (PMI), the cause of death, individual characteristics like sex, age, body mass index (BMI), ambient temperature at corpse discovery, and body storage temperature may affect vitreous humour analysis. The present review explores how these factors have been integrated into the current scientific discussion on the quantification of ethanol, EtG and EtS in vitreous humour, and how they ultimately impact the determination of the cause of death.</div><div>Our findings indicate that the PMI is often unspecified in reviewed cases (64 %), and when mentioned, it is under 24 h (17 %). Individual characteristics like sex, age, and BMI are frequently omitted (43 %, 46 %, and 86 %, respectively), and details on ambient and storage temperatures are rarely provided. Although post-mortem alterations in ocular anatomy are well-documented, there are limited studies that report ethanol stability in vitreous humour across various PMIs. For EtG and EtS, no studies have evaluated quantitative changes in vitreous humour in relation to PMI. Despite these data gaps, available studies suggest that age and BMI may influence the analysis of ethanol in cases of alcohol-related deaths, underscoring the need for further research on factors affecting substance levels in vitreous humour.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"113 ","pages":"Article 102876"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143877534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electrifying evidence: Ten years of fatal encounters with electricity at Tygerberg mortuary","authors":"Faith Beukes,&nbsp;Zandré Smith,&nbsp;Candice Wilscott-Davids,&nbsp;Ilze Mentoor","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102875","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102875","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study aimed to determine the prevalence of electrical fatalities in the Eastern Metropole of the City of Cape Town from 2013 to 2022. It explores demographic, geographic, and seasonal patterns, circumstances surrounding death, and pathological findings to understand the nature of these fatalities comprehensively. This study can provide insights to assist governmental agencies in enhancing safety awareness and developing effective strategies to prevent electrical-related fatalities.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective descriptive study was conducted and included all cases of electrocution-related deaths admitted to Tygerberg Forensic Pathology Services Mortuary from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2022.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>One hundred and forty-five cases were included in this study, with an annual prevalence between 0.09 % and 0.76 %. Electrical fatalities mostly occurred in 20-39-year-olds (59.7 %) and children under 10 (17.2 %), with males (88.9 %) predominantly affected. Most incidents occurred in summer (33.8 %) and December (13.10 %), often outdoors, with illegal connections being the main source of electricity. Geographically, Khayelitsha and Mfuleni reported the highest number of cases. Entrance wounds were primarily on the hands, while exit wounds were commonly on the feet and chest. Most fatalities had abrasions (52.8 %), and histopathology revealed streaming of nuclei in the basal layer of the skin and coagulative necrosis as prevalent findings. Most cases were ruled accidental (97.9 %), and medical intervention was needed in 25.5 %.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study reveals the prevalence and descriptive profile of electrical fatalities in the Eastern Metropole of the City of Cape Town, highlighting the urgent need for targeted prevention strategies in identified high-risk areas and during peak times. By improving safety measures and enhancing public awareness, we can effectively reduce these preventable electrical fatalities. A collaborative approach involving governmental agencies, community organizations, and the public is crucial in fostering a safer environment and safeguarding lives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 102875"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143859703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Femicide in Ireland 2012–2023","authors":"Kate McGoldrick ,&nbsp;SallyAnne Collis ,&nbsp;Linda Mulligan","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102858","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102858","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 102858"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143859704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feminicide: ideology and losing sense of proportion?","authors":"Alain Braillon","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102874","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102874","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 102874"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143807997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rare presentation of multiple sinuses of Valsalva Aneurysms with rupture into the right atrium: An autopsy case","authors":"Shujuan Wang,&nbsp;Shihao Yin,&nbsp;Lihua Lin,&nbsp;Xiang Liu,&nbsp;Jiaqi Hou,&nbsp;Qianqian Chai,&nbsp;Min Jiang,&nbsp;Qian Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102860","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102860","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In forensic practice, multiple sinuses of Valsalva Aneurysm resulting in death have rarely been reported. Here, we present the case of a 55-year-old man who was admitted to hospital with vomiting and recurrent abdominal pain. Ultrasonography showed that the aorta non-coronary sinus had an expansion to the right atrium with a range of about 19mm × 16mm and a rupture at the top of the aorta with a width of about 5mm. The movement of the left ventricular wall was uncoordinated. During the autopsy, forensic scientists found that the deceased also had a right coronary sinus of the aorta. To be exact, the wall of the aorta at the bottom was enlarged in a tuberous manner and bulged into the right ventricular outflow tract, partially obstructing the right ventricular outflow tract. The cause of death was considered to be acute right heart failure caused by the sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm complicated with the non-coronary sinus aneurysm puncturing into the right atrium, followed by multiple organ failure. In cases of unexplained death, the sinus of the Valsalva Aneurysm should be carefully examined because the aneurysm may be asymptomatic and the possibility of rupture cannot be ignored. This case demonstrated an effective post-mortem diagnostic entity and highlights the significance of post-mortem examination in dealing with unexplained deaths.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 102860"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143792194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Common errors In medico-legal reporting by the first responders at A tertiary trauma unit In North India","authors":"Jhansi Lakshmi Mylapalli ,&nbsp;Govinda Balmuchu ,&nbsp;Vidhu Prabhakar ,&nbsp;Piyush Ranjan Sandhu ,&nbsp;Deki Palmo Bodh ,&nbsp;Nirupam Madan ,&nbsp;Sanjeev Lalwani","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102859","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102859","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The Trauma unit deals with wide variety of medico-legal cases such as assaults, road traffic accidents, injuries due of self-harm, sexual violence, etc. The primary duty of first responders (attending physician/registered medical practitioner) is saving lives, besides recording the medico-legal report (MLR).</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To identify the frequently-encountered errors in medico-legal reporting by emergency physicians and also to signify the importance of efficient documentation of MLRs.</div></div><div><h3>Methodology</h3><div>Data acquisition done retrospectively from previous records after excluding the referral cases associated with outside hospital Medico-legal cases. A total of 400 MLRs were analyzed and score allotted based on the presence or absence of adequate documentation in MLRs. The minimum score is 1, while the maximum score is 5. Grading is done based on the cumulative score for each entity as Above average, average and below average.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The treating emergency physicians documented injury in 343 out of 400 MLRs. A total of 309 were graded as \"Above average\" and injury-related description was deficient in 14.2 % (n = 57) cases. Size or dimensions of injury was not mentioned in 80.17 % (n = 186), age and colour of injury was described in none.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Various factors lead of certain common errors while preparing such medico-legal reports. These errors lead to unnecessary courtroom visits and questioning of the medical fraternity during legal proceedings. Lack of standardization of uniform guidelines while writing an MLR across the nation leads to significant number of errors while documenting MLRs. We implemented a mandatory induction for all the first responders of each batch once in six weeks and observed mitigation of errors in documentation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>It is highly recommended to conduct fortnight training or induction of the first responders in preparing the MLRs and effectively enlighten doctors on the importance of medico-legal documentation. This would avoid unnecessary courtroom visits and questioning of the medical fraternity during legal proceedings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 102859"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143859700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neurodegenerative disease findings in Finnish neuropathologically examined medico-legal autopsy cases with acute head injuries","authors":"Essi Laakko ,&nbsp;Petteri Oura","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102866","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102866","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Neurodegenerative diseases present diagnostic challenges due to their diverse clinical presentations, which emphasizes the importance of postmortem neuropathological examination. As neurodegenerative diseases become more common with age, they contribute to a higher risk of falls, accidents and head injuries. Our aims were to, first, report the prevalence of neurodegenerative disease findings in Finnish neuropathologically examined medico-legal autopsy cases with acute head injuries and, second, report the prevalence, injury circumstances, and types of specific brain injuries in the most common disease entities. We analyzed cases from the Helsinki office of the Forensic Medicine Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, over the period 2016–2022. Cases were included if they had a suspected or confirmed head injury, and underwent a full neuropathological examination with neurodegenerative immunohistochemistry. Data on background characteristics, neurodegenerative immunostains and diagnoses, and head injuries were collected from cause-of-death investigation documents and neuropathology reports. Prevalences of neurodegenerative diagnoses were calculated, and head injury findings were presented for the most common disease entities. During the study period, there were a total of 128 neuropathologically examined cases with suspected or confirmed acute head injuries. Neurodegenerative immunohistochemistry was performed in 57 of them, and a neurodegenerative diagnosis was established in 47 cases. The most prevalent diagnoses were Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change (ADNPC) (n = 34), cerebrovascular disease (CVD) (n = 34) and Lewy body disease (LBD) (n = 9). Old head injuries were common among cases with any neurodegenerative diagnosis (36.2 %). Of specific findings, subdural haemorrhage and hypoxic-ischaemic neuronal injury had the highest absolute prevalence in cases with ADNPC, although there were no major differences between ADNPC, CVD and LBD. In conclusion, the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease entities in this dataset were ADNPC, CVD and LBD. A history of head injuries was common regardless of the neurodegenerative entity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 102866"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143799695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intimate partner violence in southernouthern Tunisia: A retrospective study of the sociodemographic and medicolegal clinical profile","authors":"Nihel Feki,&nbsp;Rakia Soiniya,&nbsp;Marwa Ouni,&nbsp;Hela Siala,&nbsp;Narjes Karray,&nbsp;Sami Bardaa,&nbsp;Zouhair Hammami,&nbsp;Wiem Ben Amar,&nbsp;Malek Zribi","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102855","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102855","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health issue that severely affects women's health and well-being in Tunisia. Understanding the socio-epidemiological profiles of IPV victims and perpetrators, along with the medico-legal implications, is essential for developing effective prevention measures.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was a cross-sectional, retrospective study that analyzed victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) in the Governorate of Sfax, Tunisia, from June 2022 to June 2023. Participants were interviewed face-to-face, and data were collected from medico-legal reports and police records based on the victims' complaints.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Our study included 374 suspected IPV victims, 96 % of whom were women with a mean age of 36. Most alleged perpetrators were male, with a significant proportion having a history of alcohol abuse and criminal activity. Physical assault combined with verbal abuse was the predominant form of IPV, often triggered by financial difficulties. The average duration of temporary total disability was 6 days, with 6.9 % of victims at risk for partial permanent disability.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study provides insights into the socio-epidemiological profiles of IPV victims and perpetrators in southern Tunisia. While the findings may underestimate the true prevalence due to underreporting, the adoption of domestic violence legislation represents a significant step forward. By understanding these dynamics, we can develop effective strategies to mitigate the risk of IPV and promote healthier relationships.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"112 ","pages":"Article 102855"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143807996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}