Citation

Kanawaku Y, Takahashi S, Kanetake J, Funayama M. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2015; 36(3): 125-126.

Affiliation

From the *Department of Legal Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; †Division of Forensic Medicine, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai; and ‡Division of Forensic Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PAF.0b013e318219c8bb

PMID

25946087

Abstract

We present an autopsy case of a pregnant woman who was a victim of domestic violence. The deceased showed injuries mainly to her head and abdomen. Postmortem examination revealed 1400 mL of abdominal hemorrhage, ablation of the perimetrium, placental avulsion, and intracranial hematoma. The cause of death was diagnosed as hemorrhagic shock. The uterus contained a fetus of 7 months' gestational age. Fetal autopsy revealed laceration of the lungs, laceration and avulsion of the liver, and 15 mL of hemoperitoneum. Both placental and fetal injuries suggested repeated severe attacks to the abdomen, such as those expected to result from kicking or hitting.

Language: en